Dhaka, Aug 27 (UNB) – Jatiya Party (Z) chairman and former prime minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed passed away on Thursday morning. He was 76. Kazi Zafar, also former presidium member of the Ershad-led Jatiya Party, fell sick at his Gulshan residence while preparing to go to Chauddagram upazila in Comilla district around 7:00am, said his personal secretary Golam Mostafa. He was then taken to United Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 7:30 am. Kazi Zafar is survived by wife, three daughters and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death. Zafar’s first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Friday morning. Later, his body will be taken to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque where the second janaza will be held after Juma prayers, said Mostafa. Kazi Zafar, who earned reputation as a left student leader in the 1960s, served as commerce minister, deputy prime minister and finally prime minister in the Ershad’s government in the 80s. He was the Prime Minister from 20 March, 1989 to 6 December, 1990. Born in 1939 in Chauddagram upazila in Comilla, Kazi Zafar obtained MA degree in history from Dhaka University. Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad sacked Zafar from his party on November 29, 2013 as he made ‘derogatory’ remarks against the former military ruler following his decision to join the 10th parliamentary elections and the election-time cabinet. Later, Zafar reconstituted the Jatiya Party committee by removing its chief HM Ershad and claimed he is the chairman of the new committee while Ghulam Moshi its secretary general. On January 25, 2014, Kazi Zafar-led faction of Jatiya Party joined the BNP-led alliance.
