PM recalls Ashraf's contribution to AL and democracy

Jatiya Sangsad unanimously on Wednesday adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the deaths of Public Administration Minister and MP of the 11th parliament Syed Ashraful Islam, seven former MPs and some noted personalities, reports UNB.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the first sitting of the opening session of the 11th parliament.

The seven late former MPs are Khandaker Abdul Baten, Nurul Alam Chowdhury, Tariqul Islam (former BNP minister), Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury (ex-minister), Maulana Nurul Islam (ex-state minister), Ashrafun Nesa Mosharraf and Borhan Uddin Khan.

The noted personalities are ex-Speaker Humayun Rashid Choudhury's wife Mehzabin Choudhury, legendary filmmaker, actor and writer Amjad Hossain, renowned singer, lyricist and freedom fighter Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, noted filmmaker of the subcontinent Mrinal Sen, female freedom fighter Bir Protik Taramon Bibi, National Emblem designer Mohammad Idris, noted journalist Shahriar Shahid, Language Movement hero Syed Abdul Hannan, freedom fighter of Bangladesh Liberation War and retired brigadier of Indian Army Kuldip Sing Chandpuri, filmmaker Saidul Anam Tutul and renowned photographer Anwar Hossain.

Participating in the discussion on the condolence motion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled Syed Ashraful's contributions to Awami League and democracy. "I always considered him as my younger brother," she said.