Matia Chowdhury, Awami League’s presidium member and former deputy leader and minister of the National Parliament, has been laid to rest in the grave of her husband, Bazlur Rahman, at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur, Dhaka.
On Thursday, following her second namaj-e-janaza (funeral prayer) at the Azad Mosque in Gulshan after Zohr prayer, her body was taken to the graveyard.
Earlier in the morning, her body was brought to her residence at Ramna Apartment Complex. The first namaj-e-janaza was held before her Ramna Apartment Complex residence.
Later, tributes were paid on behalf of the Awami League and later by the Daily Sangbad family. Shortly after noon, her body was transported to the Azad Mosque.
Due to the political turmoil following the student uprising on August 5 that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, most Awami League leaders remained in hiding, and no prominent leaders from the party were seen at Matia Chowdhury's namaz-e-janaza.
However, some leaders from the party's affiliated organizations were present at the mosque.
Attendees included former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of the Chhatra League Mainuddin Hasan Chowdhury, and Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).
After the Zohr prayer, Matia Chowdhury's second namaj-e-janaza was conducted. Her brother, Masudul Islam Chowdhury, asked everyone for prayers for her.
After the prayer, flowers were placed on her coffin at the south gate of the mosque. Tributes were paid both on behalf of the Awami League and separately in the name of the party's president.
Additionally, tributes were also paid by the Jubo League.
As the refrigerated vehicle carrying her body exited the mosque, about 40-50 Awami League workers were seen chanting slogans in support of the party and Bangabandhu. There was no visible presence of law enforcement in the vicinity of the Azad Mosque during the funeral.
Earlier in the day, an ambulance carrying Matia Chowdhury’s body arrived at her residence, where friends, family and many followers gathered to bid her a final farewell.
Matia's brother Masudul Islam Chowdhury had requested a new burial plot from the city corporation at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard. But it was not granted.
Veteran politician and former minister Matia Chowdhury passed away at a hospital in the capital on Wednesday at the age of 82.
