KUALA LAMPUR: The first namaz-e-janaza of Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was held at Masjid Negara, Malaysia's National Mosque, in Kuala Lumpur after Zohr prayers on Sunday noon.

Thousands of BNP leaders and activists, supporters, well wishers including Shamim Iskander, the younger brother of Koko’s mother Khaleda Zia and her adviser Mosaddek Ali Falu joined the janaza held at 2:30pm (local time).

The body of Koko, younger son of former President Ziaur Rahman, will be flown to Dhaka later on Monday.

Arafat Rahman Koko died on way to hospital in Malaysia on Saturday after he complained of chest pain. On duty doctors declared him dead around 12:30pm Bangladesh time.

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

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 and lived there until 2011 and then went to Malaysia.

BDST: 1308 HRS, JAN 25, 2015