Tofail Ahmed laid to rest with state honours

Veteran politician Tofail Ahmed was laid to rest with state honours at his ancestral village in Bhola around 5pm on Tuesday afternoon.

The late leader of Awami League was buried beside the graves of his parents and wife at their family cemetery in Koralia village, South Dighaldi Union, Bhola Sadar Upazila. A large number of villagers and people from all walks of life took part in the burial rites to get a glimpse of the late politician.

Before the burial, three rounds of funeral prayers were held: in the capital, at Bhola Government Boys’ High School around 2:30pm and in front his family home in Koralia village around 4pm.

Before the second janaza on the grounds of Bhola Govt High School, the district administration and police presented the guard of honour in memory of Tofail’s contributions to the country’s struggle for independence, democratic movement and political landscape.

BNP’s district unit Convener Golam Nabi Alamgir led a team of ruling party activists in joining the funeral prayers. A number of activists from the now banned Awami League and its affiliated bodies also joined the prayers.

Earlier, a group of grassroots BNP activists protests against the funeral prayers and demanded Tofail’s funeral rites be moved to his ancestral home. However, senior leaders from the BNP’s district unit intervened to reduce tensions.

Tofail was suffering from multiple health complications and breathed his last at a private hospital in the capital at the age of 82 years. He was implicated in a number of lawsuits related the atrocities committed by Awami League government in the 2024 uprising as well as other repressive and corruption-related steps taken by the administration during its 15-year rule.