Koko’s janaza at Baitul Mukarram; burial at Banani Army Graveyard

The namaz-e-janaza of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko will be held on the premises of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Asar prayers on Tuesday instead of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office premises. BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in a press release on Monday said the janaza venue has been shifted to Baitul Mukarram Mosque considering the convenience of common people. After the janaza, he said, Koko’s body will be buried at Banani Army Graveyard. Rizvi requested the people of all strata and the leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to join the janaza. In another statement, the BNP joint secretary general said Koko’s gayebana janaza (in absentia funeral prayers) will also be held across the country on Tuesday 10:30am instead of Wednesday. Earlier on Sunday, Rizvi in a statement announced that Koko’s janaza will be held on the premises of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office after Asar prayers on Tuesday while gayebana janaza on Wednesday across the country. Arafat Rahman Koko, who had been living in Malaysia on parole, died of cardiac arrest in Kuala Lumpur around 12:30pm Saturday. BNP chairperson’s special assistant Shimul Biswas said Koko’s body will be flown in here on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, the first namaz-e-janaza for Koko was held on the premises of Malaysian National Mosque-Negara Mosque after Zohr prayers on Sunday. His body has been kept at the mortuary of the Malaya University Hospital in Malaysia. Party sources said his body will be brought home in a regular flight of Malaysian Airlines around 11:20am. From Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the sources said, the body will be taken to BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. The mortal remains will be kept there for nearly there hours to enable party leaders and activists to have the last glimpse of Koko. Later, the body will be brought to the Baitul Mukarram mosque for janaza. After the janaza, he will be buried at the Banani Army Graveyard. Meanwhile, BNP started observing a three-day mourning from Monday across the country following the death of Koko, the younger son of former president Ziaur Rahman. Party flags were hoisted atop BNP’s offices across the country while party leaders and activists wore black badges to mourn for Koko.– UNB, Dhaka