Awami League leader Joynal Hazari dies

Awami League’s advisory council member Joynal Hazari has died. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the capital’s Labaid Hospital on Monday afternoon.

Lawmaker of Feni-2 constituency Nizam Uddin Hazari confirmed to Prothom Alo the death of Joynal Hazari, who was a former lawmaker from that constituency.

A public relation official of the Labaid Hospital told Prothom Alo Joynal Hazari had been suffering from heart, kidney and lung diseases. He was admitted to the hospital on 15 December. He died at 5:20pm today, Monday, the official added.

Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League general secretary Obiadul Quader mourned the death of Joynal Hazari.

Joynal Hazari had been the general secretary of Awami League’s Feni district unit for long. He was elected member of parliament from Feni-2 (Sadar) constituency in 1986, 1991 and 1996.

He established a ‘reign of terror’ in Feni during the Awami League’s 1996-2000 tenure. He became the talk of the country for various issues including the formation of ‘steering committee’ and ‘class committee’.

He repressed the political opponents and tortured the party rivals. Journalists could not also escape from his repression. Awami League had to face backlash over the activities of Joynal Hazari.

After caretaker government came to power in 2001, joint forces conducted a raid at Joynal Hazari’s residence in Master Para of Feni town on the night of 17 October that year. He fled to India at that time.

Eight years later, Joynal Hazari returned to the country after Awami League came to power in 2009. But Awami League expelled him from party after he submitted his nomination form to contest the 10th parliamentary election from Feni as an independent candidate.

Awami League, however, brought him back later and made him a member of the party’s advisory council.