Former home minister and Awami League presidium member Advocate Sahara Khatun passed away at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday night. She was 77, reports UNB.
"She passed away at11:25pm (local time) at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok," said sources at Awami League.
Her body was set to be brought home on Friday midnight before her burial at Banani graveyard in the city today (Saturday).
Earlier on Monday, Advocate Sahara Khatun was taken to Thailand's capital Bangkok for better treatment by an air ambulance.
Before that she was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of United Hospital as her condition deteriorated.
Sahara Khatun was admitted to the hospital on June 2 with fever and some old age complications.
Advocate Sahara Khatun was elected MP thrice from Dhaka-18 constituency.
Expressing deep shock at the death of Sahara Khatun, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said "Sahara Khatun, a soldier of Bangabandhu's ideals, worked all her life for people's rights and in establishing democracy."
In a condolence message, the Prime Minister said Sahara Khatun had worked all her life as a soldier of Bangabandhu's ideology in the struggle for restoration of democracy and materializing the rights of the people.
She provided all assistances, including legal services standing beside the leaders and activists in the critical times, the PM added.
"The country and the nation have lost a competent women's leader and honest public leader with her death. I've lost a tested and trusted co-fighter," said Sheikh Hasina.
AL Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Home Minister Ashaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also expressed deep shock at the death of Advocate Sahara Khatun.
"The county has lost an honest, efficient and skilled leader," said the Finance Minister adding that she always stood beside AL leaders and activists and provided legal assistance.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister, Commerce Minister, LGRD Minister, Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Liberation War Affairs Minister, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, Information Minister, Food Minister, Railways Minister, Land Minister, Public Administration Minister, Coordinator and spokesperson of the ruling party-led 14-Party Amir Hossain Amu, Agriculture Minister, Water Resources Minister, Industries Minister Commerce Minister, Social Welfare Affairs Minister, among others also expressed deep shock at the demise of AL politician.
An FE Report adds: The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) also condoled the death of Sahara Khatun.
The president of the apex trade body Sheikh Fazle Fahim in a condolence message issued termed her death an irreparable loss for the nation and the country.
"Advocate Sahara Khatun was the first female Home Minister of Bangladesh. She was the presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League and the founding president of Bangladesh Awami Ainjibi Parishad," he said.
He prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family members.
State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and state minister for social welfare Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru in their respective condolence messages also said that her death inflicted an irreparable loss to the nation and the country.
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