Deputy Leader Sajeda Chowdhury no more

Deputy Leader of the Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury passed away last night (September 11, 2022). She was 87.

She breathed her last around 11:40pm at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka, her son her son Shahdab Chowdhury confirmed The Daily Star.

Sajeda Chowdhury, also presidium member of Awami League, was admitted to CMH after her health condition became critical on Friday.

Benazir Ahmed Raihan, personal assistant of Sajeda, told The Daily Star that her first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of parliament at 11:00am today.

The second namaz-e-janaza will be held at her electoral constituency Nagarkanda after Zohr prayers while she will be buried at Banani graveyard after Asr prayers, Benazir added.

Immediately after her death, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed shock and deep grief at the demise of Sajeda Chowdhury. She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended her heartfelt sympathy to her family.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also expressed profound shock over her demise and expressed sympathy for the bereaved family members.

Sajeda Chowdhury, one of the organisers of the 1971 Liberation War, was born in Magura on May 8, 1935.

She joined Awami League in 1956. She served as the founding general secretary of Mahila Awami League from 1969-1975.

She was the founding director of Kolkata Gobra Nursing Camp during the 1971 Liberation War.

The veteran leader also served as the acting general secretary of Awami League.

Apart from politics, she also engaged herself in social works and contributed to the development of sports, cultural and religious institutions.

In 2010, she was adorned with the Swadhinata Padak.

In 2019, she was elected member of the parliament from Faridpur-2 constituency for the seventh time and elected deputy leader of the House for the third time.