Awami League MP from Cumilla-7 constituency (Chandina) and valiant freedom fighter Prof Md Ali Ashraf passed away in a hospital in the capital on Friday afternoon. He was 74. The five-time MP breathed his last at 3:50pm at Square Hospitals where was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and respiratory problems, his personal assistant Jashim Uddin told UNB. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid expressed grief at the death of Prof Ali Ashraf. READ: Senior photojournalist Lutfur Rahman Binu passes away In a condolence message, the President said, “Prof Ali Ashraf with his experience and professionalism had played a very positive role in the practice of parliamentary democracy. His role was important in various parliamentary committees and parliamentary activities, including the Public Accounts Committee." Hamid said Bangladesh has lost an experienced parliamentarian at the death of Ali Ashraf, which is an irreparable loss to the country's political arena. READ: Ex-state minister Prof Jahanara Begum passes away The President prayed for the salvation of Ashraf's departed soul and conveyed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family members. In another condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of the sitting Awami League MP. READ: Senior journalist Ruhul Quddus no more Hasina said, “With his death, we’ve lost a patriotic public leader and soldier of the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” The Prime Minister prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members of the seasoned parliamentarian.

Anup Bhattacharya, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste and freedom fighter, passed away on Thursday. He was 77. He breathed his last at 7:30 pm at the Asgar Ali Medical College Hospital in the capital, renowned lyricist Kabir Bakul Saïd. According to family sources, the singer was suffering from various old-age complications. He also suffered from lung problems, diabetes and high blood pressure for a long time. His body is being kept at the mortuary of Birdem Hospital tonight. His last rites will take place in Dhaka tomorrow. Anup Bhattacharya was born in Zakiganj, Sylhet in 1954. His journey as a vocalist began on March 11, 1963 with Tagore songs as an enlisted singer in the Rajshahi station of the then Radio Pakistan. During the 1971 Liberation War, he worked as a composer and music director at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and lend his voice to patriotic songs like "Teer Hara Ei Dheu-er Sagor", "Rokto Diye Naam Likhhechhi", "Purbo Digonte" and "Nongor Tolo Tolo". After independence, he emerged as a composer with popular songs such as "Baishakhi Megher Kachhey Jol Cheye", "Shuk Pakhi Rey Pinjira Tor", "Ekattorer Juddher Diney", "Pakhi Janey Na Keno Kandey", "Lalon Tomar Aarshinagar" and "Notey Gachh Moraeye Na", among more than 100 songs in his illustrious career. Considered as one of the forerunners of modern Bangladeshi music genre, Anup Bhattacharya was also a founder member of the Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha. In his career, he worked with many iconic singers including Andrew Kishore, Mitali Mukherji, Rafiqul Alam, Dilruba Khan, Samina Chowdhury and more.

Freedom Fighter Altaf Haider, who first raised independent Bangladesh’s flag in Patuakhali, died due to old age complications at his residence in Mirzaganj upazila on Tuesday. He was 83.

Freedom Fighter and veteran  journalist Md Saiduzzaman Sarker Tara died from coronavirus on Friday night. He was 70.   Saiduzzaman, a senior member of Bogura Press club and also executive editor of Weekly Hatiar Newspaper, was undergoing treatment at Mohammad Ali Hospital and tested positive for the virus.   He was also organizing secretary of Sector Commanders Forum of Rajshahi divisional committee.   Shafiq Amin, residential medical officer of the hospital said that Saiduzzaman was admitted to the hospital on June 25 following breathing problem and breathed his last at night.

A freedom fighter of Keraniganj’s Rohitpur area died in an ambulance on Wednesday as at least two hospitals allegedly refused to treat him.

Freedom fighter and former BNP leader Mofazzal Hossain, 72, died from Coronavirus or Covid-19 in a hospital in Sadar upazila on Friday.