Rizvi mourns BNP leader Salah Uddin, alleges torture in custody
BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said that late former lawmaker and BNP Commerce Affairs Secretary Salah Uddin Ahmed had left behind a legacy of devotion, unwavering support for the party and loyalty to its programmes.
He made the remarks while attending the second namaz-e-janaza of Alhaj Salah Uddin Ahmed at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan in the capital this afternoon.
Earlier, the first janaza was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, which was attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Rizvi said, “It was not a natural death, but a death caused by torture and persecution. Salah Uddin died bearing the scars of torture. During the October 2023 movement, he was arrested and subjected to extremely cruel and brutal torture. He repeatedly fell ill in jail, but no arrangements were made for his bail or better treatment.”
“Salah Uddin could not enjoy for long the democratic environment that has been created in the country,” he added.
Mentioning Salah Uddin's sacrifices for the party, Rizvi said that despite enduring torture on numerous occasions, he never deviated from his ideals and principles.
BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel said that Salah Uddin Ahmed had strengthened Dhaka Mahanagar BNP through his courage, sacrifice and guidance.
“Salah Uddin Ahmed may no longer be physically among us, and we will no longer have him by our side. But in every activity of Dhaka Mahanagar BNP, in every procession, and in every fight and struggle, our beloved Salah Uddin Ahmed will live forever as a beacon of courage,” he said.
At the janaza, Salah Uddin’s son, Tanvir Ahmed Robin, member secretary of Dhaka Mahanagar South BNP, sought forgiveness on behalf of his father for anything he might have said or done that had caused pain to others.
State Minister for Liberation War Ishraque Hossain, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam, BNP Vice-Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu, Joint Secretaries General Khairul Kabir Khokon and Abdus Salam Azad, Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Volunteer Affairs Assistant Secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, Social Welfare Affairs Assistant Secretary Kazi Abul Bashar, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Dhaka Mahanagar South BNP Member Secretary Rafiqul Islam Majnu, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna, former Dhaka Mahanagar South Jubo Dal Member Secretary Golam Mawla Shahin, and thousands of party leaders and activists attended the janaza.
Salah Uddin Ahmed died around 8 pm on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital. He was 80.
The former lawmaker from Dhaka-4 had been suffering from lung problems and other complications. He was elected to parliament from the constituency on BNP tickets in 1991 and 2001.
