United News of Bangladesh

Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard in the city on Friday afternoon. He was buried beside his parents at 3:55 pm following his third Namaz-e-Janaza, which took place at Dhanmondi Eidgaon ground shortly after his second one at Dhanmondi Eidgah Mosque following the Jumma prayer. Earlier, his first Namaz-e-Janaza was held at Al-Aksa Mosque on Green Road at 11:00 a.m. The current Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, attended the funeral prayer there. After the prayer, the Vice-Chancellor told the media that the Namaz-e-Janaza would not be held on the Dhaka University campus, in consideration of the overall situation and as per the family's decision. He, however, said a special prayer would be held on behalf of the university at its Central Jame Mosque. But Prof Arefin’s brother Atiqullah Siddique told the media on Thursday night that the family would arrange his Namaz-e-Janaza at Al-Aksa Mosque, and if the DU family wished, they could take an initiative to arrange the funeral prayer on the DU campus. Following the burial, tributes were paid by placing flowers at his grave on behalf of the DU Mass Communication and Journalism Alumni Association and several departments and organisations. On Thursday night, Prof Arefin Siddique, 72, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence and leadership. He breathed his last at 10:45 pm while undergoing treatment at the Neurosurgery Department of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital. On March 06, Prof Siddique withdrew cash from a bank booth before heading to Dhaka Club in Ramna. While conversing with others, he suddenly collapsed. His family members reported that he was immediately taken to Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital, where doctors placed him in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Former DU Vice-Chancellor Arefin Siddique passes away As his condition deteriorated, he was put on life support. Medical sources confirmed that he suffered a sudden brain stroke, which led to critical neurological failure. Despite receiving intensive medical care, he could not recover after being placed on life support. Born on October 26, 1953, in Dhaka, Professor Siddique hailed from Raipura Upazila in Narsingdi district. He obtained his master's degree from the department of Mass Communication and Journalism at DU in 1975 and did PhD on televised teaching from the University of Mysore of India in 1985. He joined DU Mass Communication and Journalism department in 1980. Dr Siddique also served as acting dean of Social Science Faculty and as senate and syndicate member. He served as the Chairman of DU’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism before being appointed the 27th Vice-Chancellor in 2009, a position he held until 2017. After completing his tenure, he returned to teaching at his department until his retirement in June 2020. Beyond academia, Prof Siddique played an active role in various professional and cultural organisations. He served as the President and General Secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association. Besides, he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and a trustee of the National Museum. His passing has left a profound impact on students, colleagues and admirers across the country.

The first namaz-e-janaza of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House, was held in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur. The namaz-e-janaza was held around 11 am at MN Academy school premises. Thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the janaza braving rains. She was given a guard of honour before the janaza. Read: AL leader Sajeda Chowdhury passes away After the janaza and tributes, the leaders and family members of Sajeda Chowdhury left for Dhaka with her mortal remains around 12 pm. Her body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 3 pm so that people from all walks of life can pay homage, said Prime Minister's special assistant and Awami League Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua.

The mortal remains of Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah arrived in Dhaka on  Monday. A flight of Emirates Airlines carrying Fazle Rabbi’s body from New York reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:40 am, said additional SP of Airport Armed Police Mohammad Ziaul Haque. His first Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the National Eidgah premises around 10:30am. His body will be taken to Bonarpara Kazi Azahar Ali High School premises in Saghata Upazila of Gaibandha around 1:40 pm by a helicopter of armed forces from Dhaka. His body will be kept at Bharatkhali High School premises in Saghata upazila for people to pay their last tributes where his second Namaz-e-Janaza will be held around 3pm. Then his body will be taken to Gotia village where another Namaz-e-Janaza will be held. Read: Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi passes away in NY The Deputy Speaker will be buried beside his two sons’ graves at the family graveyard in his village following a guard of honour by the government around 5pm, according to the Parliament Secretariat. Advocate Fazle Rabbi breathed his last on July 22 at 3.55pm (NY Time) at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York. He was 76. The valiant freedom fighter fought against the Pakistan Army in Sector 11 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. Fazle Rabbi, a seven times lawmaker from Gaibandha-5, is survived by his three daughters. His wife Anwara Rabbi passed away in May 2020. He was a reputed organizer and contributed much in creating public opinion in favor of the Liberation War abroad. Fazle Rabbi was Chairperson of Bangladesh Association for Voluntary Sterilization (BAVS), Gaibandha from 1980 to 81. He founded a good number of schools, colleges and madrasas in his own constituency. A reputed organiser who contributed much in creating public opinion in favour of the Liberation War abroad, Fazle Rabbi was born on April 16 in 1946 and was the founding Secretary of Gaibandha Law College from 1979 to 1986. He was also an elected Secretary of the Gaibandha Bar from 1978-79.

The officials of  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) paid their last respect to former secretary, diplomat Mohiuddin Ahmed, also an organiser of the Liberation War. Mohiuddin Ahmed’s s body was brought to his former workplace, the Foreign Service Academy, Tuesday morning where his Namaz-e-Janaza was held. Also read: PM expresses condolences at Mohiuddin's passing PM’s energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury , State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, attended the janaza. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen could not attend the janaza as he is visiting flood-hit Sylhet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release. The body of late Mohiuddin Ahmed was then taken to his village home in Feni for burial.

The namaz-e-janaza of prominent physicist A M Chowdhury will be held at Taqwa Jame Mosque in the capital's Dhanmondi after Asr prayers on Saturday.State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of the former chairman of the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (Sparrso) and a prominent physicist A M Chowdhury. Read: PM condoles Kazi Ekramullah’s deathIn a message of condolence, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.Independence Award-winning physicist A M Chowdhury died of old-age complications at his residence in Dhanmondi on Thursday evening. He was 81.He was born in the village of Kayastar in Dinarpur Pargana of Habiganj district in Sylhet in 1940. Read: Media fraternity pays last tributes to KG MustofaChowdhury completed his MSc in Applied Mathematics from Dhaka University in 1963 and his Postgraduate Diploma in Space Science from the University of London in 1966.He obtained his  Ph.D. degree in Space Physics in 1969.

Former Finance Minister, diplomat, Freedom Fighter and language veteran AMA Muhith was laid to eternal rest at his family graveyard in Sylhet on Sunday. Muhith, the former MP of Sylhet-1 constituency, was buried after Zohr prayers, next to his parents' graves at his family graveyard at Rainagar Family Graveyard in the city. Earlier, his last namaz-e-janaza was held at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasha ground around 2:18 pm. Also read: Muhith: A gifted economist who was a prolific writer! Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, brother of Muhith, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) mayor Ariful Haque,andleaders and activists of Awami League, among others,  attended the namaz-e-janaza. Earlier, his body was taken to Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar by an ambulance Sunday noon where thousands of people from all walks of life paid their last respect to the former minister.

Mohammed Tanweer Karim, an architect by profession, passed away on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas, USA. He was 74. Tanweer left behind his mother, wife, two daughters, two grandchildren, three brothers and a host of relatives to mourn his death.  Read:Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee passes away His namaz-e-janaza will be held on Friday after Jum’a prayers at Plano Mosque, Dallas, said a press release. Born in Dhaka, Tanweer graduated from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BueT)-1971 batch.   Read:Industrialist Deen Mohammad passes away His family urged all to pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul.  

Eminent journalist Mizanur Rahman Khan, joint editor of vernacular daily Prothom Alo, was laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard on Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Ahmed Kabir, a retired Professor of Bangla Department of Dhaka University, has passed away at the age of 76. 

Prominent educationist and historian Prof Dr. Atful Hye Shibly was laid to rest at Banani graveyard in the city on Wednesday.