Language Movement veteran Abul Hossain died on Wednesday afternoon. He was 87. Abul Hossain was brought to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) at 4 pm, where doctor declared him dead, RMCH Director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani said. Dr Bellal Uddin of RMCH quoting Abul Hossain’s family members said Abul Hossain was suffering from breathing complications and chest pain along with old age complications. Also read: Language Movement hero Yusuf Kalu passes away He took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on February 9, the doctor said. Abul Hossain left behind two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death. Also read: Language Movement hero Rawshan Ara passes away Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Rajshahi MP Fazle Hossain Badsha expressed deep shock at the death of Abul Hossain. They prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to the bereaved family members. 

Language Movement veteran and journalist Yusuf Kalu passed away at a hospital in Barishal on Monday due to old age complications. He was 91. Yusuf Kalu, also a freedom fighter, breathed his last at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital around 5:45 PM, said his son Md Shohagh. Also read: The forgotten Language Movement hero Born on January 17, 1931 at Miabari in Razapur Kanudaskathi of Jhalakati district, Yusuf was the youngest son of his father Obaidul Karim (Raza Mia) and mother (Fatema Khatun). He was a student of Barishal BM College. Until the death, he was active in works related to the history of Language  Movement and Liberation  War. Yusuf became involved in the Language Movement in 1948 when he was a student of class VIII. After passing Matriculation, he got admitted to IA at the Commerce Department of BM College and involved in Chhattra Union. Also read: Language Movement hero Rawshan Ara passes away He was also a member of the 25-member ‘Language Movement Council’. In 1952, Yusuf joined the Chhatra League and later got involved with Awami League politics. He started journalism in 1962 and joined ‘Daily Azad’ and ‘Daily Paigam’. Yusuf was also a general secretary of Barishal Press Club in 1962 to 1973. Yusuf, a freedom fighter, received training at Hasnabad, Hingalgarh, Taki Headquarters on May 14, 1971. After returning to the country, he fought with the Pakistan Army under Sector - 9 in Kaliganj and  Satkhira bordering area. Also read: Language Movement hero Osman Gani buried in Chapainawabganj His house was looted during the Liberation War. Senior Awami League leader Abul Hasanat Abdullah, MP in Barishal and Barishal City Corporation (BCC) Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah expressed deep shock at the demise of the Language Movement hero Yusuf Kalu.

He was one of the Dhaka University (DU) students who joined the Great Language Movement in 1952 defying the section 144 to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of erstwhile Pakistan. He also hoisted the black flag for the first time on the DU campus.   Although almost seven decades have elapsed since then, Language Movement hero Mohammad Sultan is yet to get any national recognition. He was honoured locally but never awarded the coveted Ekushey Padak in the last 49 years since the country’s independence.   Born at Majhgram village of Boda upazila of Panchagarh district (then Dinajpur district) on December 24, 1926, Sultan was the fifth among children of police officer Shamsher Ali and his wife Gulzannessa. He passed away at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in 1983 at the age of 57.   He passed the entrance examination from Jessore Zilla School, received his graduation degree from Rajshahi College and completed his Master’s in political science from the DU in 1953.   Some of the roads in Dhanmondi area of the capital were named after the Language Movement heroes in 2007 to make sure that they are remembered every day. As part of it, Road-3 of the posh area was named after Mohammad Sultan.   But there is no initiative to recognise this language hero.   In 2013, Mohammad Sultan was honoured posthumously by the district administration. Then deputy commissioner Bonomali Bhowmik handed over the award to his two daughters -- Sushmita Sultana and Chandona Sultana.   Besides, Sultan Book Fair is being arranged every year in the district from 2012 following an initiative of the district administration.   Along with this, Boda-Mareya road has been named after the language hero but the announcement to install his mural is yet to be implemented.

Language Movement hero Rawshan Ara Bachchu passed away at a city hospital on Tuesday due to old-age complications. She was 87.