Parliament adopts condolence motion over death of eminent personalities

Parliament today unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief over the deaths of some distinguished personalities, including eminent ruling party lawmaker, actor and valiant freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan, also known as Farooque.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion at the House.

Participating in the obituary motion on the death of eminent film actor Farooque, the treasury and opposition Jatiya Party MPs said his demise has created a huge vacuum in the arena of politics.

Paying rich tribute to the noted parliamentarian, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said after the brutal killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, none except the cultural activists had come forward to demonstrate on behalf of the slain leader Bangabandhu.

Hasina, also Leader of the House, prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

"Valiant freedom fighter Farooque was a popular cultural activist and he was a tested political leader of the ruling Awami League," said AL MP Amir Hossain Amu.

Speaker placed the obituary references separately with brief resumes on those who died after prorogation of the 22nd session of the 11th parliament on April 10.

While moving the references, the Speaker said the House expresses its deep shock at the death of former state minister M Kabir Hossain, noted social worker and founder of the Gonoshasthaya Kendra, the first health center or hospital in independent Bangladesh, valiant freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, veteran politician Pankaj Bhattacharya, popular Indian writer Samaresh Majumdar, former advisor to the caretaker government and noted business entrepreneur Rokia Afzal Rahman, Rahima Wadud, mother of education minister Dipu Moni, renowned singer and youngest daughter-in-law of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Kalyani Kazi, among others.

Later, the obituary motion was unanimously adopted by the House, praying for their eternal peace to the departed souls.