April 27, 2005

Abdus Samad Azad passes away

Abdus Samad Azad MP, a veteran politician, Awami League presidium member and a close associate of Father of the Nation Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman passed away at BIRDEM hospital at 5.55 pm on Wednesday. He was 83.

Doctors declared him dead after all medical treatment had been exhausted. Azad was suffering from stomach cancer and had been on an artificial respiratory system since yesterday morning.

Samad Azad is survived by three sons, one daughter and a host of relatives, political colleagues, well-wishers and admirers to mourn his death.

The eldest son Azizus Samad Dawn and youngest son Taufiq Samad live in Dhaka while the second son Atiqus Samad and only daughter Nafiza Noor Shilpi are now staying abroad. Samad Azad was also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the 1991 parliament.

The octogenarian leader fell ill in 2004 and was sent to Chennai (Madras) where he was successfully operated upon on August 9. He was under treatment of doctors at Z.H. Sikder Medical College after his return. Later in November last year Samad Azad went to Chennai again for medical check-up and joined political activities after coming back to the country. He was admitted to BIRDEM hospital after placing wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21. Since then he could not recover and died at the hospital on Wednesday (April 27).

Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajib Wazed Joy, Awami League senior leaders Abdur Razzak MP, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta MP, Amir Hossain Amu, Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP, Opposition Chief Whip Abdus Shahid MP, Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar and Chief Whip Khondokar Delwar Hossain, Gano Forum President Dr. Kamal Hossain, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, other nation leaders, and other leaders and supporters of the Awami League and its front organizations went to the hospital and his Kalabagan residence.

Namaj-e-Janaza

His first namaz-e-janaza was held after Esha prayers at Dolphin Mosque in Kalabagan.

His body would be taken to the Awami League headquarters on Bongobondhu Avenue at 9am today to facilitate people to pay their last respect to the leader. A namaz-e-janaza would be held at Paltan Maidan at 10:30am before the body is flown to Sunamganj with a stopover in Sylhet. Azad's body would be flown back to Dhaka for burial next to his wife's grave at Banani Graveyard.

Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil MP has urbed the people and his party workers to pay respect to the late leader and attend his namaj-e-janaza.

Sheikh Hasina shocked at the death of Abdus Samad Azad

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of former Foreign Minister and parliamentarian Abdus Samad Azad.

In her condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said the contributions of Samad Azad, a pioneer of the National Movement of the Bangalees, a valiant freedom fighter and a leading vanguard for establishing the rights of vote and rice, would remain ever shining in the history.

"In his death, the country lost one of her best sons, best parliamentarian and a representative of national conscience. Personally, I lost a guardian-like trustworthy and farsighted colleague," Sheikh Hasina said.

She said Samad Azad was a rare courageous fighter of the 40s and 50s, any one of the architects of the language movement, formation of Awami League, autonomy of the then East Bengal, six-point movement and the Liberation War as an associate of Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Samad Azad contributed a lot in rebuilding the country and the laying foundation of the country’s foreign policy with the direction of the Father of the Nation in the post-Independence period."

The Awami League President said late Samad Azad earned the confidence and respect from all quarters in giving democracy an institutional shape and making parliamentary democracy meaningful as an astute parliamentarian.

"The death of such a great leader marks the end of an era and also created a vacuum in national politics, which is irreparable."

She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Brief Life Sketch of Abdus Samad Azad

Son of late Shariatullah, Abdus Samad Azad was born on January 15 in 1926 at Burakhali village of Jagannathpur Upazila of Sunamganj district. After graduating from MC College in Sylhet, he studied law and history at Dhaka University.

In his chequered political life lasting six and a half decades, Azad played a significant role in the struggle for language, democracy and independence and in the Liberation War.

He spent most of his time doing opposition politics and went underground and to prison to establish people's rights. He won parliament elections in 1970 during the then East Pakistan and in 1973, 1991, 1996 and 2001 after independence.

As a special envoy of Bangladesh government, Azad traveled across the globe mobilizing world opinion for the War of Independence in 1971. He was also a political advisor to the Mujibnagar Government in exile in 1971.

He became the first Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and later Agriculture Minister of the Bongobondhu government. After the brutal assassination of Bongobondhu and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, Abdus Samad Azad was arrested and jailed along with four national leaders. On his release in 1978, he returned to active politics.

In 1953, Abdus Samad Azad became acting President of East Pakistan Jubo League and was Awami League's Labor Affairs Secretary between 1955 and 1957.The then Pakistani Government attached his property and issued a arrest warrant in 1954. He was also arrested in 1956, 1958 and 1964.

In 1940, he was the President of Sunamganj Mahakuma Muslim Chhatra Federation. He was arrested during that time for his involvement in the anti-British movement. He was elected Sylhet District Muslim Chhatra Federation President for 1944-48 tenure.

In 1954, he was first elected Member of Legislative Assembly on Jukta Front ticket. Abdus Samad Azad was never defeated in election except in the 1986 polls under the martial law regime.

He played an important role in the movement for neutral caretaker government in 1991 as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Abdus Samad Azad was appointed Foreign Minister of the Sheikh Hasina government in 1996.

Abdus Samad Azad's death condoled

Different organizations yesterday condoled the death of Abdus Samad Azad, former foreign minister and Awami League (AL) presidium member.

Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and General Secretary Bimol Biswas said Samad Azad was an uncompromising leader whom the nation will remember with deep gratitude. His death is a great loss for the nation, they added.

Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanok and General Secretary Mirza Azam MP have prayed for the salvation of the departed soul, and conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

Jatiya Party Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju and Secretary General Shaikh Shaidul Islam said Samad Azad was a symbol of dedication and sacrifice.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leaders said Samad Azad played an active role in our language, independent and democratic movements.

Sylhet Division Development Action Council said Samad Azad would be remembered for his contribution to the country's liberation war.

Jalalabad Association Dhaka said the country has lost a prudent politician, and the people of greater Sylhet one of their best sons.

Bangladesh Krishak League, Bangladesh Awami Swechchasebok League, Swadhinata Chikitsok Parishad, Bangladesh Jubo Maitri, Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri, Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra, Bangladesh Muktijuddha Smriti Sangrakkhan Sangsad, Sramik Karmochari Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Sanjukta Sramik Federation also expressed their profound their shock at the death of Abdus Samad Azad.

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