The body of former chief justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar today for two hours from 10am for people to pay their last respects.
His body will be then taken to the Supreme Court premises for the first namaz-e-janaza. His second namaz-e-janaza will be held after Johr prayers at the Azad Mosque in the capital’s Gulshan.
Justice Habibur Rahman, also a former caretaker government chief, passed away Saturday night on his way to the United Hospital after falling ill at home.
His family said they planned to bury him at Banani graveyard later today.
Different organisations and individuals yesterday condoled Justice Habibur’s death. Many prominent citizens went to the hospital mortuary to see his body.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in a message said people became helpless on losing a guide like Justice Habib.
Yunus said: “We could not imagine that he would leave us so suddenly. Those who did not mix with him closely will not realise what a nice person he was. He was an innocent person with enormous intelligence.”
The Human Rights Forum said the nation had lost a justice with excellent sense, an intellectual, and a creative and committed non-communal personality.
The Transparency International Bangladesh said Justice Habib would be remembered for his contribution to upholding justice and as the chief adviser to the 1996 caretaker government.
Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, and Bangladesh College-University Teachers’ Association also expressed condolences at his passing.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh said Habibur Rahman played an important role in the 1952 Language Movement as a pro-left activist.
Justice Habibur Rahman retired in 1995 as the chief justice and served as the chief adviser to the polls-time caretaker government from March 31 to June 23, 1996.