PBA DESK : The 11th Jatiya Sangsad on the first day of its first session today unanimously adopted obituary references on a number of distinguished personalities, including former minister and general secretary of the ruling Awami League, two other former ministers, an ex-state minister and five former MPs.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the obituary references separately with brief resumes on those who died after prorogation of last session of the 10th parliament.
The Speaker while moving the references said the House expresses its deep shock at the deaths of former Public Administration Minister and Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, two former ministers—Tariqul Islam and Dr TIM Fazley Rabbi Chowdhury, former state minister Alhaz Mawlana Nurul Islam, former MPs Khandoker Abdul Baten, Nurul Alam Chowdhury, Ashrafunnesa Mosharraf adn Borhan Uddin Khan.
The house also condoled the death of Mehjabin Chowdhury, wife of former Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, noted film maker Amzad Hossen, noted singer and freedom fighter Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, noted film director Mrinal Sen, freedom fighter Birprotik Taramon Bibi, national symbol designer Mohammad Idris, noted journalist Shahriar Shahid, language veteran Syed Abdul Hannan, Brigadier (retd) of Indian Army Kuldip Singh Chadpuri, film maker Sayedul Anam Tutul and noted photographer Anwar Hossen.
Dr Shirin also expressed deep shock at the life losses caused by the aircraft crash and tsunami in Indonesia, wildfire in California of USA, Taleban attack in Afganistan along with other accidental deaths took place at home and abroad.
Recalling the contribution of ruling party leader Syed Ashraful Islam, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 in 1975, Syed Ashraf played an important role in the democratic movement in the country.
The prime minister urged the people of Kishorganj to elect Ashraful Islam’s sister in the upcoming by-election at Kishorganj-1 constituency.
Participating in the discussion on Syed Ashraful Islam, Rawshan Ershad expressed deep shock at the death of former ruling party leader and conveyed deep sympathy to the members of his bereaved family.
Besides, members from both treasury and opposition benches including agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzak, 14-party spokesman Mohammad Nasim, former Ministers Amir Hossen Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, took part in the discussion.
They conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family and prayed for the lasting peace of his departed soul.
The lawmakers also observed one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. Later, a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls.
PBA/zizi