Goodbye President Zillur

News - Goodbye President Zillur
Closing ranks, the nation on Friday bid an emotional farewell to country’s 19th President Zillur Rahman as he was laid to eternal rest at the grave of his beloved wife Ivy Rahman at the city’s Banani Graveyard as per his wish.

Zillur, a revered politician and hero of the country’s Liberation War and Language Movement, was buried with full state honour around 3:52 pm.

Family members, acting president Abdul Hamid Advocate, cabinet members, MPs, the chiefs of the three services, politicians, freedom fighters, his friends, followers and well-wishers, among others, attended the burial.

A red and white flowers-adorned military vehicle carrying Zillur’s coffin draped with a national flag reached the graveyard around 3:30 pm.

A military official read out the life sketch of Zillur who witnessed many ups and downs of the country’s politics and kept outstanding contributions to establish democracy before people who gathered to take part in the burial.

Later, a two-minute silence from 3:48-3:50 pm was observed, while members of the armed forces gave salute, showing respect to the late President who died in a Singapore hospital on Wednesday while undergoing treatment.

The body of Zillur, a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and towering figure of the country’s politics, was lowered to the grave amid 21 gun salutes followed by a volley of fires.

On completion of the burial, acting President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister’s military secretary on her behalf and other dignitaries placed wreaths at the grave.

Armed forces guards also paid posthumous salutes to Zillur with the national anthem playing on the bugle.

Later, the acting president handed over a national flag to late President’s son Nazmul Hasan Papon as part of a state formality.

Earlier, Zillur’s body was brought to his family residence ‘Ivy’s Legacy’ after his second and final namaz-e-janaza at the National Eidgah.

The mortal remains of the president were kept at the house for about five minutes and also for the last time.

Thousands of people from all strata, including acting President Abdul Hamid, Cabinet members, BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, MPs, the Chief Justice, the chiefs of the three services, politicians and freedom fighters, Zillur’s political colleagues and well-wishers took part in the janaza.

The Khatib of Baitul Mukkaram National Mosque, Prof M Salahuddin administered the Janaza.

Before being taken to the Eidgah, ministers and representatives from six countries paid their last respect to the late President at Bangabhaban at 12:40 pm as it was taken back there from Bhairab.

They also stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of respect to the late President.

The acting President, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Cabinet members and family members of the late President were present on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, the body of Zillur Rahman was flown to Bhairab upazila from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where his first namaz-e-janaza was held at Haji Asmat Ali College ground at 10:07 am.

Thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the college ground and attended the janaza conducted by Hafez Maulana Jamaluddin.

LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Prime Minister’s Defence Secretary Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief Whip Abdus Shaheed, Sylhet City Mayor Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran and President’s son Nazmul Hasan Papon, MP, among others, attended the janaza.

After the janaza, the armed forces and police gave the late President the guard of honour separately.

Afterwards, the body of Zillur was brought back to the capital from Bhairab.

A helicopter of Air Force carrying the President’s body left Bhairb at 10:45 am and landed at the Old Airport at Tejgaon at 11:10 am.

Meanwhile, a three-day national mourning is being observed at the death of the President from Thursday. The national flag is flying half-mast atop government and semi-government offices across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad.

Besides, the qulkhawani of the late President will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Asr prayers on Saturday.

Source: UNB Connect