The nation paid its last tributes to veteran journalist and left politician Nirmal Sen on Central Shaheed Minar premises in the capital yesterday.
Nirmal died at LabAid Hospital in the capital on January 8 due to old age complications. He was 82.
Political, cultural and media personalities, journalists and people from all walks of life paid their last respects to Nirmal at the programme, organised by Gonotantrik Biplobi Party, of which he was the president.
The tributes started pouring in from 11:00am, first by the private secretary of the president, on behalf of him, followed by Nirmal’s family.
On behalf of Awami League, senior leaders Mohammad Nasim, Dr Abdur Razzak and Qamrul Islam placed wreaths on the coffin.
BNP city unit Convener Sadek Hossain Khoka placed a wreath on the coffin on behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim, Workers’ Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, and AL leader Suranjit Sengupta also paid their last respects.
The organisations including Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra, Samajtantrik Nagorik Oikya, Biplobi Nari Forum, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Samaj Chinta Forum, and Nijera Kori also paid tributes.
A police contingent led by a Dhaka district executive magistrate provided a guard of honour to the freedom fighter.
Afterwards around 1:00pm, Nirmal’s family handed over the body to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for research purposes, as per his last wish.
Earlier around 9:00am, the body was taken to Gonotantrik Biplobi Party office in Topkhana from LabAid Hospital’s mortuary.
It was then taken to Jatiya Press Club for members of the press club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Dhaka Sub-editors’ Council and Press Club Employees’ Union to pay tributes.
-With The Daily Star input