Swechchhasebak League chief Nirmal Guha laid to rest

Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League President Nirmal Ranjan Guha's funeral was held at his Basta village of Dohar upazila in Dhaka district on Friday evening as family members, colleagues and well-wishers bid him emotional goodbye, reports BSS.

He was buried at his village home in Dohar as per his wish, Awami Swechchhasebak League's advisory council member Md Abu Taher told the state-run news agency.

Earlier, Guha's body was taken to Central Shaheed Minar in the capital this morning to allow people of all strata to have a last glimpse of him.

Ministers, leaders and workers of different parties, cultural and social organizations and professional bodies also paid their last tributes to Guha by placing wreaths on his coffin.

On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader placed a wreath on his coffin.

Later, Quader along with senior leaders of the party paid homage to Guha by placing another wreath on his coffin.

Talking to journalists, the AL general secretary said Guha was an asset of the party as dedicated leader like him is rare in it.

At the directives of the premier, Guha stood beside people during Covid-19 pandemic and flood as well.

His death is an irreparable loss to the party as well as the country, he mentioned.

AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Central Working Committee members Abdul Awal Shameem, Shahabuddin Farazi and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present, among others.

Later, on behalf of Awami Swechchhasebak League, its acting President Gazi Mejbaul Haque Sachchu and General Secretary Afjalur Rahman Babu paid tributes to late president of the organization.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharya also placed wreaths on Guha's coffin.

Besides, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo Mohila League, Mohila Awami League and Krishak League leaders also paid homage to Guha.

Earlier, Awami Swechchhasebak League's founding president AFM Bahauddin Nasim joined a funeral procession brought out from Dhaka University Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area with the participation of leaders and workers of the organization and other associate bodies of AL. The procession ended at Shaheed Minar after marching streets.

From the capital's Central Shaheed Minar, his body was taken to Nababganj upazila sadar Central Shaheed Minar premises.

Emotionally choked leaders and workers of the organization and AL and associate bodies thronged there to have last glimpse of him.

A reminiscence meeting was also arranged at the Shaheed Minar.

Swechchhasebak League acting President Gazi Mejbaul Haque Sachchu and General Secretary Afjalur Rahman Babu, Dhaka district AL former organizing secretary and Nababganj upazila Parishad chairman Nasir Uddin Ahmed Jhilu, Dhaka district AL organizing secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Dhaka district general secretary Barun Bhowmik Nayan, Nirmal Ranjan Guha's elder son and Dhaka district south unit of Chhatra League organizing secretary Anupam Guha Nayan addressed it.

Later, his body was taken to Dohar for holding his funeral. People of all strata including leaders and workers of AL and associate bodies bid him emotional goodbye by placing wreaths on his coffin which was kept at Joypara Government Pilot High School ground and Braha Habil Uddin high School ground in Dohar.

Nirmal Ranjan Guha died on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at the age of 58. He was suffering from cardiac ailments and high blood pressure.

His body reached home on Thursday evening by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

He is survived by wife, two sons, and a host of relatives, friends and well-wishers.

Guha was taken to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the capital on June 12 after he became seriously ill. Later, he was given life support there. He was flown to Singapore on June 16 for advance treatment.

On November 25 in 2019, Guha was elected the president of Awami Swechchhasebak League.