


Alhaj Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent freedom fighter, former Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad commander, and six-time chairman of Raruli Union Parishad, passed away on Tuesday (June 9). He was 82.
Azad suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Banka Bhawanipur at around 9:30 AM and passed away while being rushed to the hospital. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and three sons.
In the afternoon, the state paid its final respects with a guard of honor at the Banka Shaheed Kamrul Secondary School ground, attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wasiuzzaman Chowdhury. Representatives from the Upazila Freedom Fighters' Association, local political parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, Union Parishad members, and educators attended his funeral prayers before he was buried at his family residence.
Beyond his political career, Azad was an esteemed educator, serving as the former principal of Raruli RKBK Harishchandra Institute and headmaster of Banka Shaheed Kamrul Secondary School. He also led the local Union Parishad Chairman Association and the Upazila Secondary Teachers Association.
Local leaders across political and social spectrums expressed deep condolences over the loss of the veteran public representative.