Ex-Dhaka mayor, freedom fighter Khoka laid to rest

Valiant freedom fighter and the last mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka was laid to rest with state honour at his mother's grave in Jurain graveyard in the city after Maghrib prayers on Thursday. 

Relatives and BNP senior leaders, including Mirza Abbas, Abdullah Al Noman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were, among others, present during the burial.

The last namaz-e-janaza of Khoka, also the BNP vice-chairman, was held at Dhupkhola ground in Gendaria after Asr prayers and before that another namaz-e-janaza was held at Brothers' Club ground in Gopibagh around 3:30 pm.

After the namaz-e-janaza at Brothers' Club ground, his body was kept at his house in Gopibagh area for some time where his relatives, well-wishers and loved ones paid last tribute to him.

In the morning, people from all walks of life thronged the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to Khoka.

The mortal remains of the BNP vice-chairman was taken to the Shaheed Minar at 12:10 pm after a namaz-e-janaza at the south plaza of Parliament.

It was kept there until 12:50 pm before being taken to the BNP's Nayapaltan headquarters where another namaz-e-janaza was held around 2pm.

Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi and chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Zonayed Saki also paid tribute to the freedom fighter. 

Current and former MPs, leaders of different political parties and people from all walks of life took part in Khoka'snamaz-e-Janaza at the South Plaza of National Parliament held around 11:15am.

Later, body of the body of the former mayor was taken to the Nagar Bhaban at 3 pm where DSCC Mayor SayeedKhokon, all the former and current councilors and officials of the city corporations (DNCC, DSCC) paid rich tribute to Khoka.

Another namaz-e-janaza was held there where Khoka's two sons- Ishraque Hossain and Isfaque Hossain, DSCC councilors, employees and staff were present.

Paying tributes to Khoka, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said people will remember his contributions in the development of the city.

The valiant freedom fighter, who had long been suffering from cancer, died at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York on Monday.

His first Namaz-e-Janaza was held at Jamaica Muslim Center, New York on Monday night.

Khoka's body was brought back home in the morning. BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku received the body at the airport on behalf of the party.

As per his last wish, the BNP leader is scheduled to be buried at Jurain Graveyard beside the grave of his mother in the evening.

Before the burial, more janazas – one in front of BNP central office after Zohr prayers, another at Nagar Bhaban at 3pm and yet another at Dhupkhola field after Asr prayers – will be held in the capital.

After his Janza at Nagar Bhaban, Khoka's body will be taken to his Gopibagh residence.

Khoka, also a former minister and MP, is survived by his wife Ismat Ara, daughter Sarika Sadeque, sons Ishraque and Isfaque Hossain.

He went to the USA in 2014 for treatment.