Freedom fighter, advisor to the late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and former deputy minister, Abdul Hai, passed away at around 1:30 am on October 14, at a private hospital in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, at the age of 77.
His first funeral was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament building) in Dhaka and was attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. A second funeral in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka. Subsequent janazas were held at the party office in Munshiganj town, followed by a final prayer at night at the Eidgah field of Mireshwarai Alia Madrasa in Panchasar Union, leading to his final burial in his family graveyard in Munshiganj.
Abdul Hai, Munshiganj politician and independence activist, was born on 5 January 1949 in Hosendi, Gazaria Upazila, Munshiganj District. He was the son of Monir Uddin, a businessman, and Jamila Khatun. His elder brother, Mohiuddin Ahmed, served as the member secretary of the Munshiganj District unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Abdul Hai completed his secondary education at Munshiganj Multilateral High School before obtaining his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Government Haraganga College in Munshiganj
Abdul Hai’s political journey began when he filled the role of chairman of Panchasar Union, one of the larger unions in Munshiganj District. He then joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 and served as its central treasurer. He also served as the secretary for local government affairs on the BNP's central committee and later as president of the party's Munshiganj District unit and as an adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
In the 1979 Bangladeshi general election, he was elected to the Jatiya Sangsad constituency as a BNP candidate and became a member of parliament. He was also elected as a member of parliament from the Munshiganj-4 constituency as a BNP candidate four separate times, once in 1991, twice in 1996, and once more in 2001. During the eighth parliament in 2001, he had the role of a panel speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad. In his political career, he served as deputy minister of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives.
Abdul Hia was a wise and well known politician who believed in Bangladeshi Nationalist philosophy. As a result he was deeply involved in BNP ever since he joined in 1979. He also endorsed freedom of speech, individuality, expression of the people and democracy and hence generally appreciated by the general public.
The community has plunged into mourning the death of this influential leader, who played a significant role in Munshiganj and BNP’s politics. Party leaders such as BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and associates along with well-wishers, have expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
