News Desk : dhakamirror.com
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, deputy leader of the Jatiya Sangsad and a member of Awami League presidium, was buried with state honors yesterday at the Banani cemetery.
One of the country’s political doyen, Sajeda, who played a crucial role in organising the AL following assassination of Bangabandhu, died on Sunday at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital. She was 87.
Her first namaz-e-janaza was held in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur yesterday.
Later her body was brought back to the capital by a helicopter and taken to AL central office on the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue.
The body was there for some time to let the party leaders and activists as well as other political leaders to pay homage to the veteran politician.
Later, her body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar where Speaker, deputy speaker, cabinet members, lawmakers, top leaders of political parties and people from all walks of life paid their tribute to the veteran leader, one of the organisers of the Liberation War.
Besides, homage was paid to her on behalf of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier, she was also given a state honour there.
Her second janaza was held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Sajeda was admitted to CMH after her health condition became critical last week.
The six-time lawmaker was elected parliament member from Faridpur-2 constituency.
She was born on May 8 in 1935.
The veteran politician joined AL politics in 1956. After the assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, she played an important role in keeping the AL organised at a critical moment.
In 1976, Sajeda became the AL’s acting general secretary. Later, she was the party’s full general secretary from 1986 to 1992. Before that, she was the general secretary of Mahila Awami League from 1969 to 1975.
Sajeda was elected one of the seven gano parishad members in 1970’s election.
LOST A TRUE GUARDIAN: PM
Expressing profound shock, the premier yesterday said the nation has suffered an irreparable loss following the death of Sajeda.
“We have lost a seasoned politician while I’ve lost a true guardian,” she said.
In a condolence message, she said Sajeda played a pivotal role in country’s all democratic and progressive movements that included the six-point movement of 1966 and mass upsurge of 1969.
Hasina, also the AL’s president, recalled with gratitude that Sajeda had played a great role in electing her as party president in her absence in its 1981 national council, said a press release of the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.
The premier said she got Sajeda as her guardian since she returned to the country on May 17 in 1981. Since then, Sajeda was her shadow companion, she said. –
– Input from The Daily Star was used in this article
