Hundreds of people thronged Central Shaheed Minar yesterday defying the terrible traffic congestion of the city to pay their last tribute to legendary Pop Guru Azam Khan.
As soon as the pop guru was brought there on an ambulance around 9:30am, hundreds of people lined up to pay tribute with flowers.
His fans, relatives, political leaders, cultural figures, academicians and students paid homage to the man, who valiantly fought for the country in the War of Liberation in 1971 and later inspired millions with his unique music style.
He breathed his last at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday morning losing a long battle with oral cancer.
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, AL leader Suranjit Sengupta, theatre personalities Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Hanif Sanket, singer Fakir Alamgir, Aiyub Bacchu were among the dozens of public figures present.
On behalf of President Zillur Rahman, his Private Secretary Fazlul Haque placed wreath at the coffin, while Prime Minister’s Assistant Personal Secretary Saifuzzaman Shekhor placed wreath on her behalf.
Many stood by his body in tears until 11:30am before it was taken by ambulance for his second namaz-e-janaza at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zohr prayers.
Earlier, Azam Khan’s first namaz-e-janaza was held in front of his Kamalapur residence around 8:30am where he was paid state honour.
Flanked by dozens of motorbikes and a convoy of cars, the funeral party arrived at Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur at exactly 2:40pm.
Mentionable, the mourners numbering over 500 people including men, women and children immediately protested the selection of the burial site at a very obscure and extended part of the graveyard.
Following talks with the graveyard authority, it was decided that a new place would be dug as soon as possible within the graveyard’s main compound.
After his third namaz-e-janaza in the graveyard at 4:00pm, the pop guru’s family members and fans, in tears, laid him to eternal rest.
The 62-year-old pop legend was diagnosed with oral cancer in June last year and received chemotherapy in Singapore.
Eventually, he was admitted to Square Hospital in the city on May 22. With his health condition remaining unchanged, the pop star was moved to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital on June 1.
Dr Yunus’s Shock
Noble laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a statement, expressed deep shock at the death of Azam Khan.
He said the legendary singer, on one side, contributed significantly in establishing Bangladesh by participating in the War of Liberation and, on anther side, inspired the young generation to be patriotic through his songs.
The vacuum created in the country’s music arena on his death is irreparable, said Yusus and prayed for salvation of his departed soul.
Condolence
Different socio-cultural organisations yesterday expressed deep shock at Azam Khan’s death.
Bangladesh Musical Bands Association; Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Dhaka city unit; Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Sangeet and Nrittroshilpi Sangstha; Joybangla Shangskritik Oikkyajote; Bangladesh Shilkpakala Academy and many other organisations expressed shock in seperate statements.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
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