Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League (AL) and its affiliated organisations on Tuesday paid tributes to former AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on the occasion of his fourth death anniversary.
According to BSS, they paid respect to the late AL leader by placing wreaths at his grave at the capital's Banani graveyard this morning. In addition, various organisations paid homage to Syed Ashraf.
At about 9:00 am on Tuesday morning, AL leaders and activists under the leadership of AL joint general secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud placed wreaths at Ashraf's grave.
AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, organising secretary Ahmad Hossain, central committee member Marufa Akhter Popi and sister of Syed Ashraf Syeda Zakia Noor Lipi were, among others, present.
After paying tributes to Syed Ashraf, Hasan Mahmud said the late AL general secretary was a freedom fighter and worthy son of one of the national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam.
"His (Syed Ashraf) death was unexpected," he said, adding that he was very gentlemanly and was above greed.
Praying for eternal peace of his departed soul, the minister said Ashraf took politics as a vow and the new generation has a lot to learn from him.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain also placed a wreath at the grave of Ashraf around 9.30 am.
Syed Ashraf was the AL's general secretary two times.
Syed Ashraf, also the then Public Administration Minister, died at the age of 68 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bangkok on January 3 in 2019. He had been suffering from lung cancer.
Ashraf was born in Mymensingh in 1952. His father Syed Nazrul Islam was acting President of the Mujibnagar Government in 1971 and one of the key organisers of Bangladesh's independence struggle.
Ashraf took part in the 1971 Liberation War after taking training from Dehradun in India. He was a member of Muktibahini.
He was actively involved in student politics. After the country's independence, he became the general secretary of the Mymensingh district Chhatra League and also served as Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League Central Committee.