Former state minister, BNP Vice-Chairman Harun-al Rashid passes away

Former state minister and BNP Vice-Chairman Harun-al Rashid passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on Thursday night. He was 87.

The five-time lawmaker from the Brahmanbaria-3 constituency breathed his last around 8:45pm while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital.

Brahmanbaria district unit BNP General Secretary and Zila Parishad Administrator Md Sirajul Islam said Harun-al Rashid had been suffering from a prolonged illness. He died on Thursday night while receiving treatment, Sirajul added.

Harun-al Rashid, who was a lawyer by profession, is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, grandchildren, and numerous relatives and well-wishers. 

Meanwhile, the Parliament Secretariat, in a press release, said the namaz-e-janaza of the veteran politician will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 10:30am on Friday.

Local BNP leaders said Harun-al Rashid was first elected a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-3 in the second Jatiya Sangsad election held in 1979.

He was subsequently elected from the same constituency as a BNP candidate in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth parliamentary elections.

During former prime minister Khaleda Zia's first term in office, Harun held several ministerial positions, including state minister for relief and disaster management, state minister for shipping, and state minister for labour and employment.