Former deputy minister and veteran BNP leader Abdul Hai died early Thursday at a hospital in the capital at the age of 77.
Hai, also a freedom fighter, breathed his last around 1:30am while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Popular Hospital in Dhanmondi, his family members confirmed.
According to family sources, his first namaz-e-janaza is scheduled to be held at 3pm on Thursday at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
His second janaza is scheduled for 4pm in front of the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan.
The third one will be held after evening at the party office in the Supermarket area of Munshiganj town, followed by the fourth and final janaza at night at the Eidgah field of Mireshwarai Alia Madrasa in Panchasar Union under Sadar upazila.
Known for his firm principles, personal integrity, simple lifestyle and straightforward manner of speaking, he enjoyed widespread popularity across party lines.
Abdul Hai was born on January 5, 1949, in Hosendi village of Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj.
He is survived by two sons and two daughters.
His younger brother, Mohiuddin Ahmed, served as member secretary of the Munshiganj district unit of the BNP.
He completed his higher secondary education and bachelor's degree at Munshiganj Government Haraganga College.
During his long political career, he held several important positions in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), including president of the Munshiganj district unit.
He was elected to parliament five times in total, including once from Dhaka-8 and three times from Munshiganj-4.
During the fifth parliament, he served as deputy minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
In the eighth parliament, he was elected panel speaker. He also held various responsibilities at the BNP's central level, including serving as the party's treasurer.