The body of Shawkat Hossain Hiron arrived in Barisal from Dhaka yesterday afternoon.
The body of the Awami League lawmaker and former mayor of Barisal City Corporation arrived in the city via a Bangladesh Air Force helicopter at around 3:30pm.
As soon as the body reached, hundreds of people rushed to Bangabandhu Udyan to receive, see and pay tribute to Hiron.
The body was preserved at home till this morning. Later, the body will be brought to the party office and then to Bangabandhu Udyan so that people can pay tribute and the Namaj-e-Janaza can be performed after Juma, party sources said.
Hiron will be buried at Barisal Muslim Gorosthan in the afternoon.
Hiron was declared dead after being taken off of life support at Apollo Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday morning. He was suffering from heart disease.
Meanwhile, different organisations curtailed Pahela Baishak programmes out of respect for the deceased veteran leader.
Syed Dulal, president of Barisal Sangskritik Sangathan Samanya Parishad, an alliance of 26 cultural organisations, said they had taken a decision that they would celebrate first day of the Bangla year in a brief manner in order to pay respects to the departed leader.
In accordance with this decision, Charukala Barisal cancelled Mangal Shovajatra, a traditional rally.
Besides, Udichi, Barisal Natak, Khelaghar, Gano Shilpi Sangstha, Anirban Shilpi Goshthi, Prantik Sangeet Bidyaloy, Kheyali, Shabdaboli Group Theatres, Barisal Press Club also cancelled their cultural programmes.
However, Baishakhi Mela will be held at different places of the city.