Nizam who pledged not to take rice until BNP’s return to power dies

Nizam Uddin Mandal, 65, a steadfast BNP supporter of Banshbaria village in Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur upazila, passed away at his home early Friday morning.

Nizam, who had been ill for years, famously vowed on 31 May 2014 never to eat rice until the BNP comes to power, following an incident during a commemoration for BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

True to his pledge, he survived on bread, flattened rice, jaggery and bananas for over a decade, earning respect from locals and political leaders for his unwavering dedication.

According to family and local people, a prayer and milad mahfil was organised in Nizam Uddin’s village to mark the death anniversary of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman on 31 May 2014.

At that time, local Awami League leaders and activists went there and threw away the cooked food. After being deeply insulted by the Awami League men, Nizam vowed that he would not eat rice until the BNP returned to power.

From then on, he survived on other dry foods, avoiding rice entirely.

BP/SP