Former Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali passes away

Former deputy speaker and valiant freedom fighter Col(retd) Shawkat Ali died at a hospital in the city on Monday. He was 84, report agencies.

Shawkat Ali breathed his last around 9:30 am while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka with various old age complications, said Tarique Mahmud, director (media) of Jatiya Sangsad.

Shawkat Ali was the number 26 accused in the historic 'Agartala Conspiracy Case' which was filed against Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1969 by the then Pakistani rulers.

He had to live with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail due to the case.

Valiant freedom fighter Shawkat Ali was elected Member of Parliament (MP) from Shariatpur-2 constituency six times.

He was the founding chairman of Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad and chief advisor of 71 Foundation, said a press release.

The body of Shawkat was be kept at Shaheed Minar around 3:30 pm where people from all of walks of life paid their last respect to him.

The namaz-e-janaza of Shawakat Ali was be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Maghrib prayer.

Later, his body will be taken to Naria in Shariatpur district by a helicopter around 10 am on Tuesday where he will be buried at his family graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the demise Shawkat Ali.

In a condolence message , the President said Shawkat Ali worked for the development of the spirit of independence and the Liberation War throughout his life being loyal to the ideal of Bangabandhu.

They also prayed for eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.

Besides, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah expressed profound shock at the demise of Shawkat Ali.