Ershad Trust chairman Khaled Akhtar dies of COVID-19

Khaled Akhtar, chairman of Ershad Trust, and a former presidium member of Jatiya Party, died on Saturday after a long battle with COVID-19, reports UNB.

He breathed his last around 6:00am at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka while undergoing treatment, the news agency quoted Jatiya Party chairman’s deputy press secretary Khandaker Delwar to say.

Khaled, was in his early 60s and had been put on life support for a few days at the CMH as his condition turned critical, he said.

Jalali said the Jatiya Party leader had been diagnosed with dengue over a month back and then tested positive for coronavirus.

Khaled, a nephew of HM Ershad, joined Jatiya Party quitting Bangladesh Army in 1986. He had worked as Ershad’s personal secretary first. Later, he was made Jatiya Party treasurer and then its presidium member.

He, however, dropped from Jatiya Party presidium after the party’s ninth national council following the death of its founder Ershad.

Before his death, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad formed a trust and donated all of his assets to it. Later, Khaled was made its chairman.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader expressed deep shock at Khaled’s death.

In a condolence message, he prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family.