Sangsad Bhaban, Dhaka: Noting that the country must prosper if politicians uphold honesty, dedication and sincerity, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she found late Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque with all such qualities.

‘Sayedul Hoque was a soul of honesty and sincerity who made a lot of contributions to the country’s development, particularly the fisheries and livestock sector. He did politics with very honesty and sincerity. This is why he was elected MP for five times,’ she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while speaking on a condolence motion on the death of the sitting minister and incumbent MP of Gaibandha-1 constituency Golam Mostafa in Parliament, reports the UNB.

Sheikh Hasina said Sayedul Hoque greatly contributed to the remarkable development of the country’s fisheries and livestock sector. Bangladesh now holds the 4th position across the world in terms of producing safe water fishes, she added.

Observing that the late minister had huge popularity at the grassroots level, she said though Awami League was defeated in a planned way in the 2001 national election, the then caretaker government had not been able to manage his defeat despite all sorts of efforts.

Sayedul Hoque, who was elected MP from Brahmanbaria-1 constituency, passed away on December 16 last.

About Golam Mostafa, the Prime Minister said the late MP was a good writer, litterateur, poet and social worker.

She said Golam Mostafa had been a very grassroots leader and schoolteacher. He had held the general secretary post of Awami League Sundarganj unit for 32 years.

Golam Mostafa won the Princes Diana Award for his social services. ‘He earned fame for Bangladesh, though was living in a remote area.’

The late MP was also a very much popular leader at the grassroots level. He was elected MP contesting with Jatiya Party candidate, who was much more educated and rich, in the Gaibandha-1 by-election in the stronghold of Jatiya Party.

The Prime Minister expressed her deep shock and prayed for salvation of departed souls.

Besides, the PM expressed her profound grief at the demise of former mayor of Chittagong City Corporation ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and sitting mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq.

Later, Parliament unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound shock at the demise of sitting minister Sayedul Hoque, sitting MP Golam Mostafa, two city mayors and some other noted personalities.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House at the beginning of the 19th session of the 10th parliament.

The House also condoled the death of former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui, former Ganoparishad member (National Assembly) Fazlur Rahman Bhuiyan, three former MPs Joynul Abedin Sarkar, Kazi Nuruzzaman and Gazi Ataur Rahman.

A munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls was offered in the House. Bazlul Haque Haroon conducted the munajat.

The members of the House also stood up and observed a one-minute solemn silence to pay respect to the memories of the deceased.

Following the death of two sitting MPs—Sayedul Hoque and Golam Mostafa, the parliament proceedings were adjourned for an hour as per the parliamentary tradition.

The sitting resumed at 6pm as there is constitutional provision for the President to address the first session of the New Year.