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DHAKA, Jan 24, 2025 (BSS) - The 10th death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was observed today across the country.

BNP and its associate bodies observed the day with due respect through holding various programmes including doa mahfil seeking eternal peace of his departed soul.

On January 24, 2015, Koko died of cardiac arrest at the age of 45 at a rented house in Malaysia. His body was brought back home on January 27 and buried at Banani Graveyard.

In observance of the day, a doa mahfil was arranged at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office after Asr prayers at 4:30pm by Dhaka north city BNP, which was attended by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman virtually along with the presence of party standing committee members and central leaders in person.

Earlier, party leaders and activists, led by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and other central leaders placed wreaths at Koko’s grave and offered fateha there around 10am.

Around 11am, a doa mahfil was arranged at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office at 11am seeking eternal peace for Koko’s departed soul. BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, alongside senior leaders from the central, metropolitan, and affiliated organizations, were present on the occasion.

In Bogura, a doa mahfil was held on behalf of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s family after Asr  prayers at Baitur Rahman Central Mosque of the district. Pesh Imam of the mosque Maulana Abdullah conducted the doa mahfil and offered munajat.

BNP chairperson’s adviser and former MP Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu, district BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha and acting general secretary of the district and former MP Mosharraf Hossain were present among others.

In Faridpur, Koko Memorial Sangsad organized a memorial discussion at BNP district party office with its president Suman Khan in the chair, which was also attended by District BNP convener Advocate Syed Modasser Ali Isa and General Secretary of Koko Memorial Sangsad Abul Kalam Azad.

A munajat was offered seeking peace of Koko’s departed soul.

In Sherpur, Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Society Sherpur district unit organized a discussion meeting and prayer mahfil at the district BNP office at Raghunath Bazar at 4pm today.

The meeting was presided over by its president Sultan Ahmed Maina and moderated by general secretary Abu Sayeed Ashish. Joint general secretaries Jawad Hossain and Rahul Amin spoke at the discussion meeting.

Among others, former district BNP publicity secretary Saiful Islam Manik, senior vice president of Sramik Dal Faisal Khan Tota, joint secretary Rezaul Karim and leaders and workers of BNP and its affiliated organizations were present.

Maulana Anas, Pesh Imam of SR Mosque conducted a doa mahfil after the discussion meeting.
In Magura, Arafat Rahman Koko Sporting Club of the district brought a memorial procession, held a discussion meeting and a doa mahfil at Bhayna crossing of BNP party office.

The meeting was presided over by its president Syed Mahabub Ali Milton and moderated by general secretary Md Shariful Islam Bhuiyan. Joint conveners of district BNP Alamgir Hossain and Ahsan Habib Kishor spoke at the discussion meeting.

Later, special doa seeking eternal peace for Koko’s departed soul was offered. Earlier in the morning, Qur’an recitation was held and food was distributed among orphans in the district.
 
Moreover, BNP’s UK chapter also arranged a doa mahfil at Brick Lane Mosque, London, after Asr prayers.