Country has lost its eminent personalities like educationists, renowned lawyers, veteran freedom fighters, incumbent cabinet members, politicians, noted actors and singers and leading business figures.
They had been suffering from either old-age complications or Covid-19.
They will live in the hearts of Bengali people for years for their contributions to various sectors.
Professor Dr Anisuzzaman
Eminent educationist and National Professor Dr Anisuzzaman breathed his last at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where he was being treated for old age complications on May 14.
A leading member of the country’s civil society, prolific writer and professor emeritus of the Bangla Department of premier Dhaka University, Anisuzzaman was a prominent 1952 Language Movement veteran and a leading figure of the intelligentsia who backed the 1969 mass upsurge.
But he is more widely remembered for his role in the country’s 1971 Liberation War when he provided his crucial intellectual services to the government in exile, put in his efforts to draw global supports for the Bengalis cause, particularly mobilizing the global intelligentsia.
Barrister Rafique-ul Huq
Renowned lawyer and former attorney general Barrister Rafique-ul Huq passed away at a city hospital at the age of 85 on October Oct 24.
Barrister Huq was active in social work. He was a life member and vice chairman of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and member of its National Council (since 1976), life member of Bangladesh National Society for the Blind, chairman of Society for Education and Care of Hearing impaired Children of Bangladesh, chairman of Management Committee of BIRDEM Hospital and Secretary General of the management board of Dhaka Shishu Hospital.
During the period of caretaker government in 2007-2008, he was acclaimed for handling cases as a lawyer in favour of the country’s top political leaders.
Jamilur Reza Choudhury
National Professor and noted educationist Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury passed away at the age of 77 on April 28.
Ekushey Padak Awardee, Prof Choudhury was a civil engineer who graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Professor Emajuddin Ahmed
Professor Emajuddin Ahmed, former vice-chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University, passed away at a hospital in the capital on July 17.
Born in 1933 in Maldaha, Emajuddin's family moved to Chapainawabganj after the partition of India.
Emajuddin, a renowned political scientist, started his career as a teacher in Rajshahi College. Upon completion of higher studies from abroad, he joined the Political Science Department of Dhaka University in 1970.
The Ekushey Padak-recipient academician served as the VC of Dhaka University between November 1992 and August 1996 On July 16,
Dr Saadat Hussein
Former cabinet secretary and former Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman Saadat Hussein passed away at a city hospital on April 23.
Saadat, also a freedom fighter, breathed his last at United Hospital in city at the age of 73.
He served as the cabinet secretary from 2002-2005 and PSC chairman from 2007 to 2011.
Mohammad Nasim
Former health minister Mohammad Nasim passed away in the capital's Bangladesh Specialised Hospital on June 13.
Mohammad Nasim was the health minister from 2014 to 2018 and home minister from 1999 to 2001.
Born on April 2, 1948, the 72-year old political veteran was representing the people of Kazipur from Sirajganj-1 constituency for the fifth time in parliament. Mohammad Nasim was a son of Capt. (rtd) M Mansur Ali, one of the four national leaders killed in prison on November 3, 1975.
Nasim was the chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Food of the present parliament. He was a presidium member of the Awami League and also was the spokesperson of the 14-party alliance.
Sahara Khatun
Former Home Minister and Awami League presidium member Advocate Sahara Khatun passed away at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on July 13.
Advocate Sahara Khatun elected MP thrice from Dhaka-18 constituency.
Religious minister Abdullah
State Minister for Religious Affairs Alhaj Advocate Sheikh Md Abdullah passed away on June 13 at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital at age 74.
Abdullah was Awami League’s religious affairs secretary as well, while he hailed from Gopalganj, the ancestral home district of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Alauddin Ali
Renowned composer and music director Alauddin Ali passed away while undergoing treatment at a city hospital on August 9.
Ali, a National Award winning music director, was admitted to the hospital with breathing problems on Saturday and later he was put on life support following deterioration of his condition. He had been battling cancer for a long.
Ali won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Music Director five times for the films GolapiEkhonTraine (1978), Sundori (1979), Koshai (1980), Jogajog (1988) and LakheEkta (1990).
He won the Best Music Composer award for the film LaalDoriya (2002) and the Best Lyrics award for Premik (1985). He directed music for more than 300 films.
Andrew Kishore
Popular Bangladeshi playback singer Andrew Kishore passed away on July 6 at a clinic in Rajshahi city.
Kishore had been battling cancer since September last year and returned home on June 11 this year.
Andrew Kishore’s songs-- DakDiyachhenDoyalAmare, JibonerGolpoAchheBakiOlpo, HaireManushRonginPhanush, Amar SharaDehoKheyo Go Mati, Amar BukerModdheKhane and Amar Babar MukheProthomJedinShunechhilamGaan --among many others evergreen songs will ever be there in the hearts of Bengali people.
AlyZaker
Aly Zaker, a valiant freedom fighter, Ekushey award-winning cultural personality and noted actor, died of old-age complications at a hospital in the city on November 27.
Aly Zaker had been suffering from cancer and various old-age complications.
He was also found with COVID-19 positive after his sample test on November 16.
Aly Zaker served as a freedom fighter in the Liberation War. He was in Sector 8 with Major General Manzoor.
Later, he joined Nagorik Natya Sampradaya, where his most memorable work — “Dewan Gazir Kissa”, “Nurul Din-erSharaJibon”, “Macbeth” and “Galileo”, among many others — came.
Aly Zaker directed plays like “BakiItihash”, “Bidogdho Romonikul”, “Toilo Sankat”, “Ei Nishiddho Polli Te” and “Ocholayoton”, among others.
On television, he is known for classics like “Aaj Robibar” and “Bohubrihi”.
He was one of the trustees in the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. Aly Zaker was the Chairman of Asiatic Society.
He was the recipient of Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award, Bangabandhu Award, Munier Chowdhury Award, Naren Biswas Award, among other accolades.
Noted singer and composer Azad Rahman passed away at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the city on May 16.
Azad, also music director and filmmaker, used to practice khayal, amodern genre of Hindustani classical music, along with other classical music.
Born on January 1 in 1944 in Bardhaman, India, Azad Rahman obtained his bachelor (Honours) degree in Khayal from Rabindra Bharati University.
The noted musician received several awards, including National FilmAward in the best music director and singer category.
Shawkat Ali
Shawkat, also the six time MP of Shariatpur -2 constituency died on November 16.
Shawkat, also the six time MP of Shariatpur -2 constituency, was buried at his family graveyard at Naria after Zohr prayer.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who had been suffering from Covid-19, passed away at a hospital in the capital on September 27.
Mahbubey Alam, a Supreme Court senior lawyer, was appointed as the 15th attorney general on January 13, 2009. Since then, he had been serving as the state's chief legal officer.
He was the longest serving attorney general of the country, and played a vital role as the chief lawyer of the state in dealing with the landmark cases related to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Tribunal.
Chitta Ranjan Dutta
Major General (retd) Chitta Ranjan Dutta, a sector commander during Bangladesh’s Liberation War, died at a hospital in Florida due to old age complications on August 24.
The freedom fighter was awarded ‘Bir Uttam’ for his gallantry during the Liberation War and went on to serve as the commander of Armed Forces in Rangpur after independence.
LatifurRahman
Leading business figure Latifur Rahman passed away on July 1 at his ancestral home in Cumilla’s Chauddagram.
The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the publications of Media World and Mediastar, which he owned alongside the Transcom Group, reported Rahman was suffering from lung related illness for a long time.
He was chairman and CEO of Transcom Group which deals with beverages, electrical and electronics products, pharmaceuticals, fast food, snacks and breakfast cereals, print media, FM radio and tea plantations.
Rahman was a member of the executive board of ICC-Paris, vice president of ICC-Bangladesh and member of BRAC’S governing body. He was a member of the
Nurul Islam Babul
Nurul Islam Babul, chairman of Jamuna Group -- one of the biggest conglomerates in the country -- died with Covid-19 at a city hospital on July 12.
Apart from being infected with Covid-19, he also had kidney damage, said Alam.
Nurul Islam, also the founding chairman of the daily Jugantor and Jamuna Television, had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since June 14.
Nurul Islam took the initiative to build an international standard hospital in the capital to treat Covid-19. He already had initial discussion in this regard.
MA Hashem passes away
Eminent businessman and founding Chairman of Partex Group MA Hashem passed away at a city hospital on December 24. Hashem was also a former lawmaker.
Renowned playwright and Bangla Academy Award winner Mannan Hira passed away on December 22 at the capital's KakrailIslamia Hospital, following a severe heart attack.
Mannan Hira was a senior member of Aranyak Natya Dal, and contributed immensely towards its success. He was also the President of Potho Natok Parishad. Among the 15 plays he had written, "Moyur Shinghashon" and "LaalJomin" were especially popular.
He directed the government granted children's film, "Ekattorer Khudiram". The artiste would sporadically appear as an actor in television as well.
Mannan Hira had received the prestigious Bangla Academy Award in 2006, for his immense contributions to the field of theatre.
