Jatiya Party Secretary General and former minister Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu has been laid to eternal rest at Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in the capital’s Mirpur area.
Bablu passed away while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Dhaka’s Shyamoli at 9:12am on Saturday. He was 66.
Khandaker Delwar Jalali, Jatiya Party chairman’s press secretary, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
Bablu, also a former minister, is survived by his son and second wife. His first wife Farida Sarkar died of cancer in 2005.
Earlier, his namaz-e-janaza was held at Gulshan Azad mosque after Esha prayers.
Prior to that, his body was kept at the party's Kakrail central office from 1pm to 4pm to allow people of all walks of life to show their last respect.
On September 7, Bablu was admitted to Labaid Specialised Hospital in the capital’s Dhanmondi area with Covid-19 symptoms. Later, he was shifted to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital as his condition deteriorated.
The former lawmaker had been suffering from various health issues, including asthma and heart disease, for some time, Jalali said.
Also Read- Ziauddin Bablu hospitalized with Covid
President M Abdul Hamid expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of the Jatiya Party leader, reports BSS.
In a separate condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader also expressed deep shock at the demise of Bablu.
Born in 1954 in Chittagong, Bablu completed his graduation and post-graduation at Dhaka University’s English department.
He was active in politics from his student life and he served Dhaka University Central Students Union (Ducsu) as its general secretary.
Bablu formally joined Jatiya Party in the 80s and served gradually as a deputy minister, state minister and full minister in the cabinet of military ruler HM Ershad.
He was elected MP for the first time in 1988 from Chittagong-7 seat and he also became MP for the second time in 2014 from Chittagong-9 constituency with Jatiya Party’s ticket.
In April 2014, then Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad appointed Bablu the party secretary general, sacking Ruhul Amin Hawlader.
On January 19, 2016, Ershad removed Bablu from the post of the party secretary general and replaced him with Ruhul Amin Hawlader.
After the death of Ershad, his younger brother and party chairman GM Quader again made Bablu the party secretary general removing Moshiur Rahman Ranga from the post.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party announced a three-day mourning period from yesterday in memory of Bablu.
The party will also hold a condolence meeting today at its central office recalling Bablu’s contributions to the party.
