Bangla Press Desk: Eminent political thinker, writer, researcher, and educationist Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq was accorded a final farewell on Monday as people from all walks of life paid their last respects to him in Dhaka.
Leaders of various political, social, and cultural organisations, along with representatives from the literary arena, gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar, Bangla Academy, and Dhaka University to honour the Bangla Academy president, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 86.
The tribute programmes began around 10:30am when his body arrived at the Bangla Academy premises, where Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Bangla Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam paid their respects.
The body was then moved to the Central Shaheed Minar around 11am, drawing crowds from all professions who offered flowers.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam placed a wreath on the coffin at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture.
Following a second funeral prayer at the Dhaka University Central Mosque after Zuhr, Fazlul Haq was laid to eternal rest at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, former interim government chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, and BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed condolences over his demise.
In addition, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, and Jatiya Kabita Parishad mourned the death.
Fazlul Haq is survived by his wife Farida Pradhan and daughter Shuchita Sharmin, who serves as the first female vice-chancellor of Barisal University.
His son, Faisal Arefin Dipan, a publisher, was killed by extremists in 2015.
