Last tributes paid to Abdul Jabbar

People from all walks of life thronged the Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday to pay their last tributes to eminent singer of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Abdul Jabbar.

He was given a guard of honour by the police led by executive magistratem Tajua Akram Ibn Sajjad, after his body was taken there at 11.30 am.

Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor, PM’s secretary Abu Naser Chowdhury, freedom fighters, activists of different socio-cultural organisations placed wreaths on the coffin of Abdul Jabbar braving rains.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said, “We have lost Hemanta Mukharjee of our country.”

Cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor said, “His inspirational songs are the part of our independence.”

The first namaz-e-janaza of Jabbar was held at the central mosque of Dhaka University after Zohr prayers. He will be buried at Mirpur intellectual graveyard in the afternoon.

Eminent singer Abdul Jabbar passed away at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Wednesday at the age of 80.

Jabbar inspired people with his songs from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the days of Liberation War in 1971.

He was awarded Bangabandhu Padak (1973), Ekushey Padak (1980), Swadhinata Padak (1996) and different national and international awards.

Born in Kushtia, Jabbar first took music lessons from Ustad Osman Gani and Ustad Lutful Haque. He became an enlisted singer of radio in 1958 and television in 1964.