DHAKA: National Peoples’ Party (NPP) and National Democratic Front (NDF), an alliance of 11 political parties, Chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu died at a city hospital Saturday night (May 6).

He was 65.

Nilu was battling with cancer for a prolonged period. 

He breathed his last at Square Hospital Dhaka around 10 pm where he was admitted on May 2. 

Quoting family, his personal secretary Al Amin told Banglanews that he will be buried at Banani Graveyard on Monday evening (May 8).

The body will be kept at his party office in Purana Paltan for paying last respects, from 3pm to 4pm Monday.

Nilu was born in a dignified Muslim family in Gimadanga village of Tungipara in Gopalganj, on April 3, 1951. His father Sheikh Shahadat Hossain was a close mate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Nilu stepped into his political career through entering student politics.

In early political life, Nilu was involved in BNP and served as student affairs secretary to BNP founding president Ziaur Rahman, secretary general of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, farmer front of BNP, and agricultural affairs secretary of BNP.

Later, in 2007, he formed Bangladesh National Peoples’ Party (NPP) and was elected its president. NPP joined the BNP-led 20-party alliance in 2012.

Nilu left the BNP-led alliance as it did not contest the national election in 2014. In 2015, he formed Nationalist Democratic Front (NDF), an alliance of 11 congenial parties.

BDST: 1016 HRS, MAY 7, 2017
SI