Senior Awami League politician, Cumilla-7 (Chandina) lawmaker and founding president of Cumilla District North unit of Awami League Md. Ali Ashraf has passed away.
The organiser of independence war in 1971 breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital Friday (July 30) afternoon (Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi Rajiun). He was 74.
Son of the deceased and Chandina Upazila Awami League president Muntakim Ashraf confirmed the demise of the lawmaker.
He is survived by his wife, a son and four daughters. The five time lawmaker was mostly known as ‘Ashraf bhai’ in his area.
Meanwhile, president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed grief at the death of Ali Ashraf.
In a condolence message, the President said, "Prof Ali Ashraf with his experience and professionalism had played a very positive role in the practice of parliamentary democracy. His role was important in various parliamentary committees and parliamentary activities, including the public accounts committee."
Hamid said Bangladesh has lost an experienced parliamentarian at the death of Ali Ashraf, which is an irreparable loss to the country's political arena.
The president prayed for the salvation of Ashraf's departed soul and conveyed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family members.
In another condolence message, prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of the sitting Awami League MP.
Hasina said, "With his death, we've lost a patriotic public leader and soldier of the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."
The PM prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members of the seasoned parliamentarian.