Dhaka: The body of Awami League Presidium member and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, who passed away at a hospital in Thailand on Thursday, was brought back home on Saturday.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying his body landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the evening, reports the UNB.

An AL delegation, led by party general secretary Obaidul Quader, received the body of the AL former general secretary at the airport.

From the airport, the body is being taken to his Bailey Road official residence and it will later be kept at the mortuary of the Combined Military Hospital for Saturday night, according to the AL press release sent to the media on Saturday.

The first namj-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jaitya Sangsad at 10:30am on Sunday. He will be given a guard of honour there, it said.

Later, Ashraf’s body will be taken to his home district Kishoreganj by a helicopter where his second janaza will be held at Sholakia Eidgaon Maidan at 12 noon. Then his body will be taken to Mymensingh where another janaza will be held at Anjuman Eidgah at 2pm, the release said.

The mortal remains will be flown back to the capital from Mymensingh and the Awami League leader will be laid to eternal rest at Banani Graveyard after Asr prayers, it added.

Syed Ashraf died of lung cancer at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok around 9:45pm on Thursday at the age of 67.

Syed Ashraf, son of national leader and Bangabandhu’s close associate Syed Nazrul Islam, left behind one daughter and a host of relatives to mourn his death.

Syed Ashraf was elected MP from Kishoreganj-1 constituency five times – 1996, 2001, 2008, 2014 and 2018. In Sunday’s election, the AL leader came out successful from the parliamentary seat.

He, however, could not take oath on Thursday when all the Awami League MPs were sworn in. The AL leader submitted a letter to the Speaker on the day seeking time for taking the oath.

His wife Shila Islam died of cancer at a London hospital on October 22 last.

Syed Ashraf, a member of the 10th parliament, took a 90-day leave from the Jatiya Sangsad from September 18 last for receiving treatment in Thailand.

In 2008, Syed Ashraf returned home from London to steer Awami League during the army-backed government when the party went through a difficult time.

He was made the party’s general secretary in 2009 and served for two consecutive terms till 2016.

Syed Ashraf was made LGRD and Cooperatives Minister after Awami League formed the government through the December-29 election in 2008. He was given the charge of the same ministry after the party won the January-5 election in 2014.

Syed Ashraf was, however, removed from the ministry on July 9, 2015 and made a minister without portfolio.

A week later, he was made the Public Administration Minister.