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The Dhaka deputy commissioner leads a guard of honour for left politician and an organiser of the War of Independence Haider Akbar Khan Rano as people pay last respect to him at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital on Monday. | — ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· photo

Politicians, academics and people from all walks of life paid their last respect to left politician and freedom fighter Haider Akbar Khan Rano at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city on Monday.

Then the body was taken to the Dhaka University central mosque where his namaz-e-janaza was held.


He was buried at Banani graveyard beside the graves of his father and mother according to his wish.

Haider Akbar Khan Rano died early Saturday at Health and Hope Hospital on Panthapath suffering from lung diseases. He was 82.

His body was kept in the mortuary of Samarita Hospital for the returning of his only daughter Rana Sultana from Canada.

Rano was born in Kolkata on August 31 in 1942.

He was involved in student politics and elected general secretary of the then East Pakistan Students Union and joined the War of Independence in 1971. He was the advisory council member of the Communist Party of Bangladesh before his death.

On Monday morning, the body was taken at CPB central office where leaders of the party and activists paid last respect placing wreaths on his coffin.

He was brought to Shaheed Minar after 11:00am. On behalf of the deputy commissioner of Dhaka district, a police team gave guard of honour to the body as an organiser of the War of Independence in 1971.

Then a team of Awami League central leaders led by its presidium member Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin placed a wreath on the body.

After that main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by its secretary general Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir, showed respect to the leader.

Then a team of CPB lead by its president Mohammad Shah Alam, leaders of  Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, SPB (Marxist), Ganosamhati Andolan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Bangladesh JSD, Revolutionary Workers Party, Bangladesher Samyabadi Andolan, Ganatantri Party, Revolutionary Communist League, Democratic Revolutionary Party, Jatiya Gonofront, Jatiya Mukti Council, Jatiya Party faction led by Mostafa Jamal Haider, Left Democratic Alliance, Gono Forum, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Dhaka University, leaders of the anti-autocratic movements of 1990,  Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Nari Pakhkha, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Garment Sramik Samhati, Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, Charan Shilpi Goshthi, Gono Jagaran Mancha and other political parties and organisations placed wreaths.

Among the dignitaries, Dhaka University emeritus professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, dramatist Mamunur Rashid, Ramendu Majuder, Dhaka University professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· editor Nurul Kabir and others also paid their last respect.

While paying their respect, DU professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said Rano was a true leftist who never compromised in the question of ideals.

Main opposition BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Rano wanted to establish a repression and oppression-free society in the country.

Joint general secretary of Awami League Mahbub Alam Hanif said that Rano was a patriot who took part in the War of Independence. He wanted to establish a democratic Bangladesh, Hanif said.

CPB central committee member Mujahidul Islam Selim said that the role of Rano in the left politics of the country would be remembered for long time.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod president Hasanul Haq Inu said that Rano never compromised in the question of democracy and democratic rule.

He wanted restoration of democracy and democratic rule in the country, Inu said.