Nure Alam Siddique, one of the key organizers behind Bangladesh's liberation in the 1971 war and eyewitness to some of the major political events in the country's history, has died aged 79.
The former student leader breathed his last at 4:37am on Wednesday at United Hospital in Dhaka, his press secretary Aniket Rajesh confirmed.
Nure Alam's body was taken to Jhenidah by helicopter in the morning for his first namaz-e-janaza. His second namaz-e-janaza was held at Gulshan Azad Mosque in Dhaka, where he was given a guard of honour.
The convener of Swadhin Bangla Kendriya Chhatra Sangram Parishad and former president of Chhatra League (1970-1972) has been buried next to a mosque he built in Savar, just opposite of BKSP in the compound of Doreen Garments.
Nure Alam Siddique grew up in the spirit of democracy, non-communalism, and Bengali nationalism with the affection of Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, veteran journalist Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia and Shaheed Sirajuddin Hossain.
The political ideology of veteran leader Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy had a profound impact on his political life, according to a book edited by his press secretary.
CourtesyHe made his debut as a strong and capable student leader in the politics of this country by leading the anti-Ayub procession in Dhaka on June 7, 1966, with the bloody clothes of Manu Mia, the first martyr of the 6-point movement.
Nure Alam Siddique was one of the leaders of Mujib Bahini, the Bangladesh Liberation Force.
The former student leader was known as one of the four Caliphs of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The other three were Shahjahan Siraj, ASM Abdur Rab and Abdul Kuddus Makhan.
During the Liberation War, Nure Alam Siddique was in Kolkata, India most of the time and kept communications with senior Awami League leaders.
In the independent Bangladesh, he was involved in forming Jubo League as the general secretary of its first convening committee in 1972. However, when the first conference of Jubo League was held, Nure Alam Siddique dropped out from the committee.
Nure Alam Siddique was elected as a Member of Parliament from Jessore-2 in the first general election of independent Bangladesh in 1973. When Bangabandhu decided to form Baksal in 1975, he criticized it in the National Parliament.
Also Read: The four caliphs of Bangabandhu
There is a controversy regarding his role after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975. Some historians write that he joined the Awami League under the leadership of Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, and later did not get an important position in the mainstream Awami League. However, a book written by Nure Alam's press secretary says that he was tortured and imprisoned after the assassination of Bangabadhu by the military regime.
In 1977, he became a member of Dhaka Stock Exchange during the regime of President Ziaur Rahman.
Later, he opened a stock market brokerage house in the eighties. At the time, during the President Ershad regime, Shah Moazzem was the deputy prime minister and secretary general of Jatiya Party. When Nure Alam Siddique was in Chattra League, he had very good ties with Shah Moazzem.
In the national elections of 1996 and 2001, he was nominated by Awami League but was not elected. He has been away from Awami League politics for a long time, but was loyal to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman till his last breath.
CourtesyNure Alam was born on May 26, 1944 in Jhenaidah district. He obtained a triple MA degree in Bengali, Political Science and History and in 1970 also obtained a higher degree in Law.
He was the Chairman of the Doreen group and convener of the former Chhatra League Foundation, which arranged some discussion events in several historic days of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Nure Alam Siddique.
In a condolence message, she said Nure Alam Siddique remained steadfast to the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and played an important role in the anti-Ayub movement, the Six-point Movement and the 1970 election.
The premier said he served as an organizer of the Liberation War. “The contribution of this brave son of the nation in the establishment of independent Bangladesh will be remembered with reverence forever by the next generations.”
Sheikh Hasina also prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.