Dhaka: BNP on Tuesday paid last respects to its standing committee member MK Anwar, who died at his Elephant Road residence, by placing wreaths at his coffin.

Anwar’s coffin was taken to BNP’s Nayapaltan central office around 11:45am and kept on a temporary stage in front of it, enabling party leaders and activists to have a last glimpse of their late leader.

Later, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with party senior leaders, on behalf of the party, placed wreaths at his coffin and draped it with a party flag as a mark of respect to the late leader.

Anwar, a bureaucrat-turned politician, breathed his last around 1:20 am at the age of 84.

The BNP leader is survived by wife Mahmuda Anwar, daughter Khadiza Anwar and two sons—Mahmud Anwar and Masud Anwar—and a host of relatives and followers to mourn his death.

In a brief address prior to a namaz-e-janaza in Nayapaltan, the BNP secretary general said Anwar did not back off from his struggle for restoration of democracy, even after jailing and repression by the government. ‘He believed in democratic values, and sacrificed a lot and led people to uphold it.’

Mentioning that a brave and honest person like Anwar is now rare in the country, the BNP leader said not only his family and BNP, but also the entire nation suffered an irreparable loss with his demise.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the country has lost a sincere and honest politician with Anwar’s death.

He urged the country’s people to pray for salvation of his departed soul.

Later, the second janaza of the BNP leader was held there participated by several hundred party leaders and activists.

Apart from Fakhrul and Mosharraf, BNP standing committee members Dr Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Hafizuddin Ahmed, Shahjahan Omar, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Zainul Abedin, Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Amanullah Aman and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi joined the janaza.

Anwar’s first janaza was held at Kataban Mosque at 10am.

Meanwhile, BNP has announced to observe today (Tuesday) as the mourning day following the demise of the veteran leader.

The party hoisted black flags and kept the party flag at half-mast atop its Nayapaltan central office on the occasion. Besides, party leaders and activists wore black badges.

A condolence book was also opened at the party’s Nayapaltan central office since the morning for party leaders and activists to register their condolence.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at his death.

In separate condolence messages, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Fakhrul visited MK Anwar’s residence in the morning and condoled the bereaved family members.

Anwar will be buried at his family graveyard in Comilla’s Homna on Wednesday after the return of one of his sons and the only daughter from the USA.

After his retirement from the public service as the Cabinet Secretary in 1990, Anwar joined BNP in 1991 and he was inducted in the cabinet twice in 1991 and 2001 when the party came to power.

He had also been elected MP five times from Homna constituency.