Tarique visits Koko’s grave on his death anniv

Staff Reporter :

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday paid tribute to his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko by visiting his grave and taking part in doa and milad mahfil marking the 11th anniversary of Koko’s death.

Accompanied by family members—including his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and Koko’s wife Syeda Shameela Rahman—Tarique went to Banani Graveyard in the afternoon, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said.

They offered fateha at the grave and prayed for the eternal peace of Koko’s soul, as well as for his parents, late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Later, Tarique Rahman attended a doa and milad mahfil at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office in remembrance of Koko. Senior party leaders, including BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan, along with Chairman’s advisory council members Ismail Zabiullah and Mahdi Amin, were present alongside other leaders and activists.

Special prayers were offered seeking peace for the departed soul of Arafat Rahman Koko and well-being for his family members.

Earlier in the day, BNP senior leaders and activists, led by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, paid homage by placing wreaths at Koko’s grave. A separate doa and milad mahfil was also organised at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan, attended by leaders and workers from the party’s central, city and affiliated organisations.

In addition, various professional, associate, city and district units of the BNP, as well as sports organisations, observed the anniversary by placing wreaths at the grave and arranging commemorative programmes.

Arafat Rahman Koko, a noted sports organiser, passed away from cardiac arrest in Malaysia on 24 January 2015 at the age of 45. His body was brought back to Bangladesh on 27 January and laid to rest at Banani Graveyard.