BNP leader MA Mannan dies

MA Mannan, the first mayor of Gazipur City Corporation and a BNP vice-chairman, died at a city hospital on Thursday. He was 72.

Mannan, also a former state minister for religious affairs, breathed his last at United Hospital at around 4:30 pm, his son Monjurul Karim Rony said, reports UNB.

The former Gazipur mayor was put on life support and was admitted to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday night, said BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Mannan left behind his only son Rony and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Sayrul said Mannan had been suffering from various diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes since he was sent to jail in 2015.

The first namaz-e-janaza of the former Gazipur mayor was held on Baridhara DOHS Mosque premises after Esa prayers.

Later, the body will be kept at United Hospital's mortuary.

His second janaza will be held in the south plaza of the parliament building at 10 am on Friday while the third one in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan Central office at 10:30 am.

Mannan’s fourth janaza will be held in Gazipur’s Rajbari field after Juma prayers while the fifth and final one at his native village Salna after Asr prayers.

He will be laid to rest at his family graveyard in the same village.

On February 11, 2015, police arrested Mannan from his Baridhara residence in the capital in a case filed for allegedly hurling petrol bombs on a passenger bus in Gazipur.

He was released on bail from jail on January 6, 2017. He later became inactive politically due to his various ailments.

Manna was elected mayor in the first election to Gazipur City Corporation in July 2013.

Joining BNP in 1978, Mannan was elected MP from a Gazipur constituency in 1991. He was inducted into Khaleda Zia’s cabinet in 1991 as a state minister for religious affairs and science and technology.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at his death.

In a condolence message, he prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.