Syed Muazzem Ali, former foreign secretary and immediate past Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, was given state guard of honour on Wednesday (Jan 1) on the premises of the state guesthouse Padma in Dhaka after his first Namaj-e-Janaza.
Representatives of President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the coffin of Muazzem Ali, local media reported.
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, former Finance Minister A M A Muhith, former Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Vatican to Bangladesh Archbishop George Kocherry, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das along with diplomats and senior officials were present to show their last respect to the late freedom fighter.
While serving in the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Muazzem Ali declared his allegiance to the government of Bangladesh.
“He has always been a fully committed person and a good soul, I am feeling so bad.” Foreign Minister told media after the first Namaj-e-Janaza on Padma premises.
Momen said the nation would always remember him for his contributions towards the Liberation War in 1971.
Ali’s second Namaj-e-Janaza was held at Gulshan Azad Mosque after Zuhr prayers.
He was laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard on Wednesday afternoon.
His Qulkhawani is scheduled to be held on Friday.
Syed Muazzem Ali, 75, passed away on Monday (Dec 30) at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital while undergoing treatment days after he returned from New Delhi following his five-year stint in India.
As a founding member of the Bangladesh Mission in Washington DC, he was active in the lobbying process for political support for Bangladesh’s independence movement and after its independence, he was directly involved in getting US recognition for the country.
