Bangladesh Nationalist Party vice-chairman and former minister Abdullah Al Noman passed away at 6:00am on Tuesday.
He was 82.
Noman, who was also a freedom fighter, felt sick at his residence at Dhanmondi in the morning and was聽 immediately taken to Square Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead, the BNP media wing confirmed.
He is survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter, along with numerous relatives, colleagues, and admirers.
Upon hearing the news of his death, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders rushed to Noman鈥檚 residence at Dhanmondi.
Once a veteran labour leader, Noman was first elected as a lawmaker from the Chittagong 9 constituency in 1991 and served as the fisheries minister.
After winning the 2001 election, he was appointed as the food minister.
BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Abdullah Al Noman.
In his condolence message, Tarique said that Noman had been a patriotic politician who stood by the people during every national crisis and was widely respected as a national leader.
Tarique also prayed for the salvation of Noman鈥檚 soul and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to his grieving family, supporters and well-wishers.
The first namaz-e-janaza of Noman was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at noon, followed by the second one in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan after asr prayers.
Before the second namaz-e-janaza, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Noman played a significant role in 1971.
He worked for social change during his student life, and his departure is an irreparable loss that will be deeply felt by those who are patriotic and democratic, Fakhrul mentioned.
In the early 60s, Noman joined the Chhatra Union, serving as the general secretary of the Chittagong city unit, president of greater Chittagong, and central organising secretary.
After his student life, he joined the labou7r movement with the support of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and became vice-president of the East Bengal Labour Federation.
In 1970, he was appointed central organising secretary of the National Awami Party, and in 1971, he participated in the War of Independence.
After the war, he returned to NAP politics and joined the BNP in 1981.
Noman, born on May 31, 1945, at Gohira village in Chattogram, was the son of Ahmed Kabir Chowdhury.
Quoting Saayed Al Noman Babu, the only son of Abdullah Al Noman, BSS reported that Noman鈥檚 namaz-e-janaza in Chattogram would be held at the Zamiatul Falah Mosque ground in the city after Jummah prayers on Friday.
He will then be laid to rest at the family graveyard following another namaz-e-janaza after asr prayers at his ancestral village of Gohira in Raujan upazila.