Former deputy speaker and valiant freedom fighter Col(retd) Shawkat Ali died at a hospital in the city on Monday. He was 84.
Shawkat Ali breathed his last around 9:30 am while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka with various old age complications, said Tarique Mahmud, director (media) of Jatiya Sangsad.
Shawkat Ali was the number 26 accused in the historic ‘Agartala Conspiracy Case’ which was filed against Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1969 by the then Pakistani rulers. He had to live with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail due to the case.
Shawkat was elected MP from Shariatpur-2 constituency six times. He was the founding chairman of Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad and chief advisor of 71 Foundation.
The body of Shawkat will be kept at Shaheed Minar around 3:30 pm where people from all of walks of life will pay their last respect to him.
The namaz-e-janaza of Shawakat Ali held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Maghrib prayer. The body was be taken to Naria in Shariatpur district where he will be buried at his family graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the demise Shawkat Ali. They also prayed for eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
