KUALA LAMPUR: The body of Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, will be flown to Dhaka on Monday.

BNP delegation along with Shamim Iskander, younger brother of former premier Khaleda Zia, has already arrived in Malaysia to bring back the body of Koko.

The first namaz-e-janaza of Koko is set to be held at Masjid Negara, Malaysia's National Mosque, in Kuala Lumpur after Zohr prayers Sunday.

BNP leaders-activists have already started gathering at University Malaya Medical Centre.

After janaza, Koko's body will be kept at the mortuary of University Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, said Mohammad Shahidullah, President of a faction Malaysia BNP unit, and Mosharraf Hossain, member secretary of another faction.

All the necessary preparations have been taken to send the body of Koko to Dhaka on Monday, they added.
 
Arafat Rahman Koko, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, died on way to hospital in Malaysia on Saturday after he complained of chest pain.

Arafat Rahman was rushed to a nearby hospital after he felt chest pain. On duty doctors declared him dead around 12:30pm Bangladesh time, said Shahidullah.

Earlier Saturday afternoon, Press secretary to the BNP chief Maruf Kamal Khan confirmed the matter in a press briefing at Chairperson’s Gulshan political office.

Koko, who was arrested on April 16 in 2007, tried in absentia.

Koko was released on parole on July 17, 2008 to pave the way for his departure for Bangkok.

On June 23 of 2011, a Bangladesh court sentenced Arafat Rahman Koko, the fugitive son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, to six years in jail for laundering money taken as bribes from two global companies.

** Khaleda’s son Koko dies

BDST: 1000 HRS, JAN 25, 2015