Mohammed Nasim dies

Former home minister and presidium member of ruling Bangladesh Awami League Mohammed Nasim passed away on Saturday.

He was 72.

Nasim breathed his last while under treatment at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital, Dhaka. The chief executive officer of the hospital Al Imran Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that the official announcement of his death was made at 11:10am.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed shock at the death of the senior leader.

On 5 June, the former minister underwent a surgery after his condition worsened following a stroke while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital. After the successful surgery he was kept under 72-hour observation by the medical board.

Nasim had been admitted to Bangladesh Specialised Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms, including fever and cold on 1 June. On the following day, he tested positive for coronavirus infection. Though he tested negative for coronavirus for the third time on 11 June, his condition remained unchanged.

The family members of the ailing AL leader were trying to take him to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for further treatment.

The former health minister was acting as the convenor for the 14-party ruling alliance led by Awami League.

Born on 2 April 1948 to national leader Muhammad Mansur Ali and Amena Monsur in Sirajganj district, Nasim served as the health and family welfare minister and home minister of Bangladesh government respectively during 2014-2019 and 1999-2001. He was a fifth-time Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Sirajganj-1 constituency during death.

Nasim was appointed as public works, post and telecommunications minister in June 1996. Later, he took over the home ministry as well in March 1999. Being elected to the parliament from Sirajganj-1 in 2014, he was appointed as the health and family minister.