Tofail Ahmed’s first Janaza to be held in Dhanmondi
Tofail Ahmed. File Photo
The first janaza of Tofail Ahmed, one of the key organizers of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, a former minister, and a veteran leader of the Awami League, will be held at Takwa Mosque in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
The information was confirmed by family sources on Monday afternoon. Earlier, Tofail Ahmed passed away at around 3:30 pm at Square Hospital in the capital. He was 82.
Relatives of Tofail Ahmed, who were present at Square Hospital, said his body would be taken shortly to Takwa Mosque at Dhanmondi 12/A. The body will be bathed there, and the first funeral prayer will be held after Maghrib prayers. If everything proceeds as planned, he will be laid to rest in his home district of Bhola on Tuesday following another funeral prayer.
Tofail Ahmed had been undergoing treatment in hospital for a long time due to various age-related complications. He was admitted to Square Hospital in critical condition on September 28 and had been on life support there.
Tofail Ahmed was sworn in as Minister for Industries and Commerce in the government led by Sheikh Hasina on June 23, 1996.
He served as a member of parliament nine times and was elected from the Bhola-1 constituency. He also served for many years as a member of the Presidium of the Bangladesh Awami League.
Born on October 22, 1943, in Koralia village of Dakshin Dighaldi Union under Bhola Sadar Upazila, he was the son of Maulvi Azhar Ali and Fatema Begum. He is survived by his wife, Anwara Begum, and their only child, Dr Taslima Ahmed Zaman Munni.
In his academic life, he passed his Secondary School Certificate examination from Bhola Government High School in 1960 and his Higher Secondary Certificate examination from Brojomohan College in 1962. He earned a BSc degree in 1964 and later completed an MSc in Soil Science from University of Dhaka.
Tofail Ahmed began his political career through the Bangladesh Chhatra League. While studying at the University of Dhaka, he was elected vice-president of Iqbal Hall (now Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall) for the 1966–67 term.
During the mass upsurge and student movement of 1968–69, he served as convener of the All-Party Student Action Committee in his capacity as vice-president of DUCSU. Following the Mass Uprising of 1969, the then Pakistani government released all accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
