Jamiruddin Sircar laid to rest

Former Acting President, former Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad and BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar was laid to rest at the Parliament graveyard following his namaz-e-janaza at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday.

Sircar was buried with state honours after the second janaza held following Asr prayers inside the entrance tunnel of the Parliament complex, as inclement weather forced the venue to be shifted from the South Plaza. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined the janaza along with cabinet members, lawmakers, senior political leaders, government officials and members of Sircar’s family.

Following the janaza, a wreath was first placed on Sircar’s coffin on behalf of President Mohammed Shahabuddin by his Military Secretary Major General ASM Bahauddin.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman then paid his last respects by placing a wreath on the coffin.
He also laid another wreath on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accompanied by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior party leaders.

Speaker Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and other whips, as well as officials of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat, also paid their respects by placing wreaths.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni recalled Sircar’s long political career and his contributions to the country and Parliament.

Earlier in the day, Parliament expressed profound grief over Sircar’s death.

Lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches paid tribute to the veteran politician, followed by a one-minute silence and special prayers for the eternal peace of his departed soul.

The second janaza was attended by Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, cabinet members, lawmakers, senior government officials, Parliament Secretariat officials and Sircar’s family members, including his eldest son, Barrister Naoshad Jamir.

Earlier, the first janaza of the veteran politician was held after Zuhr prayers at Taqwa Mosque in Dhanmondi.

The Prime Minister said he had served the country with integrity, wisdom and a strong sense of responsibility throughout his long political career.

Tarique Rahman said the nation will remember with deep respect his contributions to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting parliamentary practices and serving the people.

BNP on Sunday announced a nationwide mourning programme for Monday following his death.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

“The BNP has announced a one-day mourning programme following the death of Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar. A nationwide day of mourning will be observed on Monday,” he said.

As part of the programme, black flags will be hoisted at BNP offices across the country and party leaders and activists will wear black badges.

Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar passed away at 4:18am on Sunday while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the capital.

A founding member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Sircar served as Speaker of the Eighth Jatiya Sangsad and as Acting President from June 21 to September 6, 2002, following the resignation of then President Professor AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

During his long political career, he held several key ministerial portfolios, including housing and public works, foreign affairs, land, education, science and technology, and law.

He was also widely respected as a Supreme Court lawyer for his contribution to constitutional law, parliamentary practice and democratic politics.

He is survived by a daughter, Nilufar Jamir, and two sons, Barrister Naoshad Jamir, MP, and Naufel Jamir.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Jamiruddin Sircar.

In a condolence message, he described Jamiruddin Sircar, former acting President and Speaker, Language Movement hero and member of the BNP National Standing Committee, as a wise, honest and dedicated personality.