Kazi Zafar no more

Former prime minister and veteran politician Kazi Zafar Ahmed passed away yesterday morning. The doctors at the United Hospital in the city pronounced him dead around 6:45 am, according to his personal assistant, Golam Mostafa. Kazi Zafar, who was the chairman of a faction of the Jatiya Party, was supposed to go to Chauddagram upazila in Comilla to join a workers’ meeting, said his other personal assistant, Kamruzzaman Roni.

He said the JP leader was rushed to the hospital in the morning after his family members failed to wake him up. The doctors on duty pronounced him dead on arrival.
Quoting family members, he said, Zafar was suffering from various health complications, including diabetes and kidney problem. Doctors suspect that he died of a heart attack.
The 76-year-old veteran leader, and an organiser in the Liberation War, is survived by his wife and three daughters. A host of well-wishers mourned his death.
Jatiya Party Chairman, HM Ershad, expelled him over differences regarding participation in the election-time government in 2013. Zafar, who in turn expelled Ershad, formed a new faction of the Jatiya Party led by him. Later, his party joined the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Kazi Zafar, who hailed from Cheora of Chauddagram upazila in Comilla, was a much talked-about politician in the country’s political circles for varied reasons.
He was the general secretary of the East Pakistan Students Union in the early 1960s, and later became a trade unionist, organising workers in the Tongi Industrial Area.
He was also the general secretary of the National Awami Party (NAP) led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and played an important role in the 1969 mass uprising. He joined ranks with Ziaur Rahman in 1978 to form the United Peoples Party (UPP). The veteran leader joined the Jatiya Party led by Ershad in 1986 when it was formed.
He became the Commerce Minister and later took over as the Prime Minister. He continued as the PM till the collapse of Ershad’s regime in 1990. He was elected as Member of Parliament from his home constituency of Chauddagram in Comilla several times.
Zafar’s first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Friday morning. Later, his body will be taken to the Baitul Mokarram Mosque where the second namaz-e-janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers, said Golam Mostafa.
Grameen Bank founder and Noble Laureate, Prof. (Dr) Muhammad Yunus rushed to the United Hospital after hearing the news of Zafar’s death. Yunus told reporters that Zafar and he were friends from their student days at the Chittagong University.
President Abdul Hamid and leaders of different political parties, including BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, in separate messages expressed their deep shock at the death of Kazi Zafar, seeking salvation of the departed soul.
In his condolence message, the President prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the deceased and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members. Khaleda Zia expressed her condolence and profound shock over the demise of the veteran politician.

Kazi Zafar no more

Former prime minister and veteran politician Kazi Zafar Ahmed passed away yesterday morning. The doctors at the United Hospital in the city pronounced him dead around 6:45 am, according to his personal assistant, Golam Mostafa. Kazi Zafar, who was the chairman of a faction of the Jatiya Party, was supposed to go to Chauddagram upazila in Comilla to join a workers meeting, said his other personal assistant, Kamruzzaman Roni. He said the JP leader was rushed to the hospital in the morning after his family members failed to wake him up. The doctors on duty pronounced him dead on arrival. Quoting family members, he said, Zafar was suffering from various health complications, including diabetes and kidney problem. Doctors suspect that he died of a heart attack. The 76-year-old veteran leader, and an organiser in the Liberation War, is survived by his wife and three daughters. A host of well-wishers mourned his death. Jatiya Party Chairman, HM Ershad, expelled him over differences regarding participation in the election-time government in 2013. Zafar, who in turn expelled Ershad, formed a new faction of the Jatiya Party led by him. Later, his party joined the BNP-led 20-party alliance. Kazi Zafar, who hailed from Cheora of Chauddagram upazila in Comilla, was a much talked-about politician in the countrys political circles for varied reasons. He was the general secretary of the East Pakistan Students Union in the early 1960s, and later became a trade unionist, organising workers in the Tongi Industrial Area. He was also the general secretary of the National Awami Party (NAP) led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and played an important role in the 1969 mass uprising. He joined ranks with Ziaur Rahman in 1978 to form the United Peoples Party (UPP). The veteran leader joined the Jatiya Party led by Ershad in 1986 when it was formed. He became the Commerce Minister and later took over as the Prime Minister. He continued as the PM till the collapse of Ershads regime in 1990. He was elected as Member of Parliament from his home constituency of Chauddagram in Comilla several times. Zafars first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Friday morning. Later, his body will be taken to the Baitul Mokarram Mosque where the second namaz-e-janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers, said Golam Mostafa. Grameen Bank founder and Noble Laureate, Prof. (Dr) Muhammad Yunus rushed to the United Hospital after hearing the news of Zafars death. Yunus told reporters that Zafar and he were friends from their student days at the Chittagong University. President Abdul Hamid and leaders of different political parties, including BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, in separate messages expressed their deep shock at the death of Kazi Zafar, seeking salvation of the departed soul. In his condolence message, the President prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the deceased and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members. Khaleda Zia expressed her condolence and profound shock over the demise of the veteran politician.