The newly-elected ward councillor of Barisal City Corporation, Selim Howladar, who had been expelled from the BNP for participating in the election, died on Wednesday, just five days before his oath-taking ceremony. He was 59.
A BNP activist, Selim Hawladar, was elected councillor for the sixth time and was scheduled to take oath on next Monday.
Selim suffered a brain stroke at 12am on Tuesday and was taken to Barisal Medical College and Hospital.
He died at Bhanga in Faridpur, on the way to Dhaka, around 6am as the doctors referred him to Dhaka for better treatment, said former general secretary of Barisal Reporters Unity Quamrul Ahsan.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, and two sons, among other close relatives.
Murad Hossain Alil, a nephew of the deceased, said that the namaz-e-janaza of late Selim Howladar were held at Bazar Road Khaza Moinuddin Madrasa after Asr prayers, and he was then buried in the city's Muslim graveyard.
Former general secretary of Barisal Reporters Unity Quamrul Ahsan recalled that Hawladar was the commissioner of Barisal Municipality in 1991 before the establishment of the Barisal City Corporation. After the Barisal Municipality was upgraded to Barisal City Corporation (BCC), he also became a city corporation councillor in ward number eight, beginning in 2003.
Aminul Islam Shuvo, another local resident, remarked that although Hawladar was associated with BNP politics, his popularity was such that thousands of people from the ward and surrounding areas rushed to his house upon hearing news of his death.
He noted that a shadow of grief has fallen over everyone.