ZCZC
BSS-32
BURIAL-SARWAR
Golam Sarwar laid to rest with state honour
DHAKA, Aug 16, 2018 (BSS) – Eminent journalist and Daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar was laid to eternal rest at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard after Asr prayers today three days after he died of various ailments at the Singapore General Hospital.
Earlier, the body of Sarwar, president of editor’s council, was brought to the Jatiya Press club (JPC) where journalists paid their final tributes to him before his last Namaz-e-Janaza after Zohr prayers.
On behalf of the President, his military secretary Major General Sarwar Hossain paid last tribute to him by placing a wreath at the JPC where the body was kept since 1 pm.
Later, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim placed wreaths on the coffin of Sarwar.
Dhaka district administration led by Executive Magistrate Anowar Uzzaman gave a guard of honour to the freedom fighter on the JPC premises. A Namaz-e-Janaza was held there where country’s eminent personalities attended.
A memorial meeting was held at the JPC where Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam, State Minister for Information Tarana Halim, Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, General Secretary of editors’ council and Editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, JPC President and General Secretary respectively Shahfiqur Rahman and Farida Yasmin, BFUJ incumbent President Molla Jalal and former President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Samakal Publisher AK Azad, Samakal acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi, former JPC President Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Golam Sarwar’s son Golam Shahriar Ranjan and acting Editor of the Daily Jugantor Saiful Alam were present.
Besides, journalist leaders under the banner of different journalist bodies including Jatiya Press Club (JPC), BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, DUJ-Dhaka Union of Journalists paid their last respect to him. Journalists of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), led by its Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad, Press Information Department (PID) led by Principal Information Officer (PIO) Begum Kamrun Nahar, Barishal Division Journalist Forum led by Azizul Islam Bhuiyan and Aminul Islam Mirza, among others, placed wreaths at the coffin of Sarwar.
A delegation of BNP also paid tributes to him.
Besides, BFUJ led by its Secretary General Shaban Mahmood, DUJ led by its President and General Secretary respectively Abu Jafar Surjo and Sohel Haider Chowdhury, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) led by its president and general secretary respectively Saiful Islam and Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo, daily Ittefaq’s family led by Abul Khayer, daily Sangbad family led by journalists Kashem Humayun and Kazi Rafiq, Dhaka Divisional Journalists Forum, Khulna Divisional Journalist Forum, Dhaka-based Patuakhali Journalist Forum, Law Reporters Forum, Nari Sangbadik Kenra, Economic Reporters Forum, Dhaka-based Chattogram Journalists Samity, Dhaka Sangbadik Bohumukhi Samity Sangbadpatra Hawkers’ Bohumukhi Samity also paid homage to the journalist.
Earlier, an ambulance carrying the body of Sarwar was taken to the central Shaheed Minar from Tajgaon Samakal office at about 11 am. The body was kept till 12.30 pm enabling people to pay their last respects to him.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed and Khushi Kabir of “Nejera Kori” placed wreaths on the coffin.
Earlier, his body was taken to his workplace at Tejgaon Industrial area around 9 am where his colleagues paid last respects to their late editor and his third Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the field of Osmani Hall of Bangladesh University of Textiles adjacent to Samakal office.
On Tuesday, his body was flown to Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport here at 10.50pm by a flight of Singapore Airlines.
On Wednesday, the body was taken to his ancestral home at Banaripara in Barishal. His first namaz-e-janaza was held at the Banaripara Government Model Institution playground where Sarwar served as headmaster for several months after the Liberation War.
The body was returned to Dhaka following the janaza. His second namaz-e-janaza was held at Uttara Sector 4 Jame Mosque, nearby his long-time residence, on Wednesday afternoon.
Sarwar breathed his last around 9.25 pm (BST) on Monday while undergoing treatment at the Singapore General Hospital for various health complications including, pneumonia, lung and kidney. He was 75.
He is survived by wife, two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives and admirers.
BSS/MAR/MSH/KC/SIR/MKD/MMA/1915hrs