CHITTAGONG, Dec 15: Awami League leader and former mayor of Chittagong City Corporation ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury died at a hospital here early Friday at the age of 74.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury, also a freedom fighter and president of Awami League Chittagong city unit, was admitted to a private clinic on Thursday morning as his condition deteriorated yesterday.
He was suffering from heart and kidney problem and kept on life support at Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. He breathed his last at 3:00 am, doctors at Max Hospital said.
Earlier, the three-time mayor of Chittagong city was taken to a Singapore hospital from Square Hospital and back to Dhaka on November 26 after 11-day treatment.
Thousands of people started thronging the Max Hospital in the city since early morning to pay their tributes to the departed leader. The body was brought to the city Awami League's office at Darul Fazal Market where people paid homage to the leader with floral wreaths.
Later, the body was brought to Laldighi Square in the afternoon. Millions of people attended his namaz-e-janaza held after Asr prayers.
General Secretary of Awami League central committee and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Expatriates Welfare Minister Nurul Islam BSc, City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Zaved, AL leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah MP, Publicity Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud MP, Dr Afsarul Amin MP, CDA chairman Abdus Salam, Zila Parishad chairman MA Salam, BNP leaders Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdullah Al Noman and Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, Chittagong University vice chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, presidents and general secretaries of Chittagong north and south districts, leaders of political and socio-cultural organisations attended the janaza.
The second janaza was held near his city residence in Chashma Hill area. He was given the guard of honour by the district administration officials and the police team. He was laid to rest at the family graveyard at Chashma Hill.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
Recalling his contributions to the country and its people, President Hamid said the loss caused by his death is really irreparable in country's political arena.
Mass people will remember him for long as their leader, the President added.
He prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the former Chittagong city mayor had played an important role from the front in all the democratic movements since the Liberation War of the country. "He never bowed down but embraced jail and faced repression on various occasions in his life. His contributions to the welfare of the people of Chittagong will ever be remembered," the Prime Minister said.
She mentioned that this 'leader of the people' will remain alive in the hearts of the mass people.
The Prime Minister prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker M Fazle Rabbi Miah, Deputy Leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Chief Whip ASM Firoj also condoled the death of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
They prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed their heart-felt sympathies to his bereaved family members.
Presidents and secretaries of Chittagong Press Club, Chittagong Union of Journalists, Chittagong Journalists Cooperative Housing Society and Chittagong Freedom Fighters Journalists Parishad Kalim Sarwar, Suklal Das, Reaz Hyder Chowdhury, Mohammed Ali, Swapan Mallik, Hasan Ferdous, Nasiruddin Chowdhury and Pankaj Dastider respectively also expressed deep sorrow at the death of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
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