BNP Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain passed away at a Singapore hospital Wednesday afternoon.
He died at 2:30pm (Bangladesh time)
He left behind his wife, four sons and two daughters.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition in the Parliament Khaleda Zia expressed deep shock over the death of veteran politician Khondaker Delwar Hossain.
The 78-year-old ailing BNP leader was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital on March 4.
Earlier he was admitted to Modern Hospital in Dhanmondi in the city on February 22 with old-age complexities.
He was shifted to Square Hospital at Panthapath later on March 3 when his condition deteriorated due to breathing complications. Delwar was given life support at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
Born at Pachuria village in Ghior Upazila of Manikganj on February 1, 1933, Khondaker Delwar Hossain started his education at Joka Primary School in the district.
Delwar, whose nick name was Pannu, passed Secondary School Certificate examinations with 1st division from Manikganj Government High School in 1947. He obtained 1st division also in the Higher Secondary Certificate examinations from government Devendra College of Manikganj in 1949.
After completing honours and Master’s degree in economics with first class from Dhaka University in 1952 and 1953 respectively he obtained LLB degree from the university in 1955 and started his service as a lawyer.
He started his political career through the Language Movement in 1952, contesting the 1954 elections from the Jukto Front.
The leader started active politics at the national level in 1957 by joining National Awami Party (NAP) and become member of its East Pakistan Organising Committee. He became president of Manikganj Sub-division committee of NAP in 1964-65 and was selected vice president of its Dhaka district.
He played an important role in the mass uprising in 1969 and contested the election in 1970 with the ticket of NAP.
Delwar took part in the Liberation war in 1971 and was later awarded Ekushey Padak for his outstanding performance in the Language Movement.
Delowar became convener of Manikganj Sub-division committee of JAGO Dal in 1978. He was elected as president of Manikganj Sub-division and district committee of BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) in 1979 to 89. He was selected a senator of Dhaka University in 1979-1981. The politician was elected MP from Manikganj-1 constituency for five terms (2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th parliamentary election). He was chief whip of Jatiya Sangsad for three times.
He joined hands with general Zia in 1978 and became a member of the national standing committee of BNP in 1985.
A man of illustrious political past, Delwar was a five-time member of parliament from Manikganj’s Ghior-Doulatpur constituency.
Controversy, however, trailed him for his reported abuse of office for personal financial benefits after his party came to power in 2001.
Anti-Corruption Commission on December 28 last year and January 16 this year had filed six separate cases against him on charges of unauthorised use of government vehicles and misappropriation of public funds and property during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule.
He established Khondaker Nurul Hossain Law College in Manikganj own after his brother’s name and also established Khondaker Delwar Hossain College after his name.