Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s seventh death anniversary observed today
The seventh death anniversary of Sadeque Hossain Khoka, a valiant freedom fighter, former BNP Vice-Chairman, former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and former minister, is today.
He passed away on November 4, 2019, at the age of 67, while undergoing treatment at a hospital in New York.
Khoka’s career spanned from his participation as a guerrilla fighter in the Liberation War to significant roles in national politics, including serving as a member of parliament, a minister, and a key figure in the DCC.
His passing had cast a shadow of grief over the political arena. Even seven years after his demise, his contributions as a freedom fighter, politician, and former DCC mayor continue to be discussed.
Sadeque Hossain Khoka was born in Dhaka on May 12, 1952. He got involved in politics during his student years, participating in student movements and anti-autocracy political activities throughout the 1960s.
In 1971, Khoka took part in the Liberation War as a guerrilla fighter. In recognition of his courageous contributions during the war, he was awarded the title of ‘Bir Protik’.
Following the independence, Khoka remained active in politics, initially aligning himself with the National Awami Party (NAP), led by the renowned leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.
Later, he joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and achieved a significant position within the party, serving as the president of its Dhaka city unit.
He also held various key positions within the party’s central executive committee. In the final phase of his life, he served as a BNP Vice-Chairman.
In the 1991 national parliamentary election, Sadeque Hossain Khoka was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Sutrapur-Kotwali constituency. Subsequently, he served as the State Minister for Youth and Sports in the then-BNP government.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 1996 elections. In the 2001 national elections, he was elected once again from the same constituency and served as the Fisheries and Livestock Minister. Alongside his political career, he also played a significant role in the municipal administration of Dhaka.
On April 25, 2002, Khoka was elected mayor of the then-undivided DCC — a position he held for nearly nine years.
During his tenure, he had the opportunity to address various civic challenges in the capital, including infrastructure development, road management, and the provision of urban services.
He was also deeply involved in promoting the spirit of the Liberation War and advancing the sports sector. He was one of the founders of the Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and served as the chairman of the governing bodies for both the Dhaka Wanderers Club and Farashganj Sporting Club.
Furthermore, Khoka served as the general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Football Association and as a joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation. In recognition of his contributions to sports, he was honoured with the National Sports Award in 2004.
On May 14, 2014, Khoka went to the United States with his wife for medical treatment. There, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a long course of treatment.
He passed away on November 4, 2019, while receiving treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York.
Following his death, his body was brought back to Bangladesh. After several namza-e- janaza held in Dhaka on November 7, 2019, he was laid to rest at the Jurain Graveyard in the capital.
On the occasion of his seventh death anniversary, his family, political colleagues, well-wishers, and followers are remembering him. The day is being observed through various programmes dedicated to offering prayers for the eternal peace of his soul.
