Deputy Speaker Advocate Md Fazle Rabbi Miah has passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in New York of USA. He was 76.
He breathed his last in the early hours on July 22 at 3.55pm NY Time at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York.
Fazle Rabbi Miah, a seven-time MP elected from Gaibandha-5 constituency, is survived by his three daughters. His wife Anwara Rabbi passed away in 2020.
His first Namaz-e-Janaza was held after Zohr prayers on Saturday (July 23) at Jamaica Muslim Center in New York. His body will arrive in Dhaka at in the morning on Monday by an Emirates flight from New York.
After arrival of the body, his Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building followed by second one on the Supreme Court premises in Dhaka. Then, his body will be taken to Gaibandha as he will be buried at his family graveyard after another Namaz-e-Janaza at the Bharatkhali school ground there.
Nazmul Hasan, acting Consul General at the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York, said that they are in touch with family members and relatives of Fazle Rabbi in New York. Necessary formalities needed to be done to repatriate his remains in Bangladesh.
He, however, said they are expecting all documents to be ready by today (Sunday) noon and to get a flight in the evening.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Fazle Rabbi Miah.
In his condolence message, the President said that the nation will remember Fazle Rabbi’s skills and experience in running Parliament and his contribution to the practice and development of parliamentary democracy with respect.
The President also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
In her condolence message, Prime Minister Sheik Hasina said that Fazle Rabbi Miah was involved in anti-Ayub movement and 1962’s anti-education commission movement from student life. And during the Liberation War, he fought in Sector 11. “He will be remembered for his outstanding role in parliamentary democracy,” the PM said.
Sheikh Hasina prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Besides, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also expressed profound shock and sorrow at Fazle Rabbi Miah’s death. She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Opposition Leader in Parliament Raushon Ershad also expressed deep shock at the death of Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah.
In her condolence message, she said, “Fazle Rabbi, an advocate by profession, was active in politics and he worked for the country... People of the country will remember his contribution in the Liberation War and parliamentary democracy forever.”
“His death is an irreparable loss in the political arena which will not be healed soon,” she added.
Raushon Ershad also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Cabinet members including Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi also expressed profound shock at the death of the Deputy Speaker.
In a condolence message, the Foreign Minister said that Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah worked for the welfare of the people throughout his life as a patriot and dedicated politician.
As a highly skilled and experienced parliamentarian, the nation will forever remember the contribution he made to the practice of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, Momen said.
In his condolence message, Dr Hasan Mahmud said that the death of Fazle Rabbi Miah is an irreparable loss to the political arena.
Hasan Mahmud, also Awami League joint general secretary, prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md. Jashim Uddin has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Deputy Speaker and freedom fighter advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah.
In a condolence message, the FBCCI President prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed his deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Fazle Rabbi Miah is a valiant freedom fighter as he fought against the Pakistan Army in Sector 11 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
He 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 in Gaibandha.
Fazle Rabbi Miah 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.