Former convenor of Rangpur district BNP is prominent politician Ashraf Hossain Barada. Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Jan 24, 2025 (BSS) - Language movement veteran and popular BNP leader Ashraf Hossain Barada passed away while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital at 7:15 pm on Thursday.
 
He was 85.
 
Ashraf Hossain Barada was one of the soldiers of the language movement and former convener of Rangpur district BNP. 
 
He is survived by a daughter and numerous admirers, relatives and well-wishers. 
 
The Namaj-e-Janaza of the deceased was held at the Guptapara Jam-e-Mosque in the city after Juma prayers today. Later, his body was buried at the Nurpur Graveyard in the city. 
 
The funeral prayers were attended by BNP Central Organizing Secretary (Rangpur Division) Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, its Joint Organizing Secretary Abdul Khalek, Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, Member Secretary Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Don, Rangpur District BNP Member Secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, Rangpur District Jubo Dal President Nazmul Alam Nazu, leaders of various political parties and people from different walks of life. 
 
Meanwhile, the leaders of BNP, Jamaat, National Citizen Committee, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Jatiya Party, JSD, BSD, CPB and various political, social and professional organizations have expressed deep sorrow over the death of language soldier and former convener of Rangpur district BNP, veteran politician Ashraf Hossain Baroda. 
 
According to family sources, Ashraf Hossain Barada got involved in the language movement in 1952 while he was in the eighth grade of Lalmonirhat High School. 
 
He was inspired by a writing of Professor Dr Muhammad Shahidullah. Then, with the closeness of progressive teacher Santosh Guha and the inspiration of poet Shah Amanat Ali, he participated in the movement. 
 
This language veteran, who did not personally dream for any state recognition, wanted the 'language aggression' to stop.  
 
Ashraf Hossain went into hiding in 1954 due to his involvement in the language movement. 
 
Later, he started living permanently in Guptapara area of Rangpur city from 1955. 
 
Although he did not directly participate in the Liberation War, he stood by the freedom fighters in the Pirganj area of Rangpur. 
 
After independence, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani gave him the responsibility of organizing the National Awami Party in 1972. 
 
Later, he was elected the central Vice-President of the Bangladesh Workers Federation in 1973 and he formed the United People's Party. 
 
As the central Vice-President of this party, he joined the 7-party alliance of former Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and played a leading role in increasing the salaries and allowances of teachers. 
 
When the alliance broke up, he joined BNP and became the Vice-President and later, convener of Rangpur district BNP in 1997. He retired from politics in 2010.