Ershad finally laid to rest in Rangpur

RANGPUR July 16 (UNB): Jatiya Party Chairman and ex-President Hussain Muhammad Ershad was finally laid to eternal rest on Tuesday at Polli Nibash in his hometown Rangpur, reports UNB.

The former military strongman who ruled the country for nine years was buried at the grave dug by his party followers at the Litchi Orchard of his Polli Nibash around 5:53 pm as Jatiya Party was forced to revise its decision of burying him at Military Graveyard in the capital due to rigid stance of party followers in Rangpur.

Huge army personnel took position around the prepared grave before the burial to maintain discipline as thousands of people gathered there to bid farewell to their beloved leader.

Military men carried ex-army chief Ershad's coffin, draped in an Army flag, to near the grave around 5:35pm. Later, a life sketch of the Jatiya Party Chairman was read out before observing a one-minute silence showing tributes to him.

Army personnel supervised the burial process in the presence of Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Jatiya Party acting chairman and Ershad's brother GM Quader, his relatives and party senior leaders.

After his fourth and final namaz-e-janaza in Rangpur, Jatiya Party issued a statement that Ershad would be buried in Rangpur.

Showing respect for the love of people of Rangpur for her husband and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, the party statement said Raushon Ershad gave permission to bury him at Polli Nibash.

She also made a request to keep aside a place beside Ershad's grave so that she can be buried there after her demise, it said.

"It's not possible to ignore the love and affection of the mass people of Rangpur for former president HM Ershad. So, the decision to bury him in Rangpur was taken considering the love and sentiment of the people of Rangpur," the statement reads.