News desk: People from all walks of life paid their last tribute to eminent elocutionist and cultural personality Qazi Arif as his body was kept at Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday.
After the body was taken to the Shaheed Minar premises around 11:45am, Arif was given a guard of honour in the presence of Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu.
After one and a half hours, his body was taken to Dhaka University central mosque where his namaz-e-janaza was held. Later, the body was taken to his daughter's Dhanmondi house. Arif will be buried today at Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur, said his daughter Antara.
Earlier around 9:00am, the body arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from New York.
An architect and freedom fighter, Arif was famous for poetry recitation in Bangla.
The elocutionist passed away at a New York hospital Saturday night, aged 65. He was on life support as his health condition deteriorated following a heart operation at the hospital on April 25.
Sammilito Sangskritik Jote (SSJ), a cultural alliance, coordinated the programme paying tribute to him, where Arif's friends, well-wishers, cultural personalities, various organisations, including the political ones, showed their last respect.
Awami League and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal paid homage. Cultural personalities also showed their respect.
Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, National Museum, Abritti Somonnoy Parishad, National Poetry Council, Kanthashilon, Mahila Parishad, Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Buet Alumni Association, Udichi Shilpi Goshti , theatre troupe Prachyanat, and Muktakantha and other cultural organisations placed wreaths on the coffin of Qazi Arif.
