Former Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman dies

Former Religious Affairs Minister and valiant freedom fighter Principal Motiur Rahman passed away on Sunday night. He was 81.

Motiur, also former president of Mymensingh Awami League, breathed his last around 11pm while undergoing treatment at Nexus Cardiac Hospital in Mymensingh.

Mridul Kumar Sarker, Manager of the hospital, told Jago News that Motiur fell seriously ill on Sunday noon and was taken to the hospital and died. 

He had been suffering from old-age complications for few days, he said.

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Motiur Rahman.

In a condolence message, the prime minister said Motiur Rahman was a dedicated leader of the Bangladesh Awami League.

She recalled that, "He (Motiur Rahman) performed his organisational duties remaining steadfast to the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the politics of the Awami League defying uncountable inducement and repeated imprisonments."

Sheikh Hasina said Motiur Rahman, who led the Mymensingh district Awami League for more than three decades, served as a trainer and successful organiser of the freedom fighters during the Great War of Liberation.

He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2022 for his outstanding contribution to the War of Liberation.

"The death of Principal Motiur Rahman is an irreparable loss to the party, and I lost a faithful political companion at the demise of him," she added.

The premier prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her deepest sympathy to the members of his bereaved family.