By Mohammad Kamal Uddin
Chattogram on Thursday bid a solemn farewell to one of its most influential political figures, veteran leader, freedom fighter, and former minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain. His funeral prayer, held with full state honors at the historic Jamiatul Falah National Mosque ground, drew an overwhelming crowd from all walks of life, turning the occasion into a powerful reflection of the city’s political history, emotional attachment, and contemporary realities.
From early morning, streams of people began gathering at the mosque premises to pay their final respects to the veteran Awami League leader, who had long been regarded as a symbol of political resilience, organizational strength, and unwavering loyalty to the spirit of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. Politicians, freedom fighters, journalists, lawyers, teachers, cultural activists, business leaders, and ordinary citizens stood shoulder to shoulder in grief as the city mourned the loss of one of its most recognizable public figures.
The funeral prayer was held at 11:00 AM under strict state security arrangements. A large contingent of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police was deployed to ensure smooth crowd management and maintain law and order throughout the area. Officials closely monitored the situation as thousands of mourners flooded the mosque compound and surrounding roads.
Many observers praised the administration for ensuring a dignified state farewell to a veteran freedom fighter whose political influence transcended party lines. To many in Chattogram, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain was not merely a politician; he represented a generation shaped by struggle, sacrifice, and the dream of an independent Bangladesh.
Born on January 12, 1943, in Dhum village of Mirsharai upazila in Chattogram, Mosharraf Hossain came from a respected family known for business, public service, and social leadership. His father, S. Rahman, was a prominent businessman, former provincial assembly member, and visionary entrepreneur who played a pioneering role in developing tourism infrastructure in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram. Their family legacy became deeply intertwined with the economic and social development of the region.
Engineer Mosharraf Hossain completed his early education at Chattogram Collegiate School and later studied at Sir Ashutosh Government College before earning a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore in 1966. During his student years, he became actively involved in the historic Six-Point Movement and served as President of the East Pakistan Students’ Council in Lahore, strongly advocating for the rights of Bengalis.
After returning home, he joined mainstream politics under the guidance of renowned Awami League leader M.A. Aziz and quickly emerged as a committed political organizer. In 1970, he was elected to the Provincial Assembly of then East Pakistan, marking the beginning of a long and eventful political career.
His role during the Liberation War of 1971 remains one of the most significant chapters of his life. As a Sub-Sector Commander under Sector-1, he played a courageous role in resisting Pakistani military forces in Chattogram. Historical accounts particularly remember his involvement in blowing up the Shuvopur Bridge to obstruct the advance of Pakistani troops toward the port city. His wartime leadership earned him lasting respect among freedom fighters and political colleagues alike.
Following Bangladesh’s independence, he was elected Member of Parliament multiple times and later served as Minister for Housing and Public Works as well as Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism. Throughout his political career, he remained closely associated with infrastructure development, housing expansion, and tourism growth in Bangladesh.
Political colleagues often described him as polite, soft-spoken, principled, and organizationally disciplined. Even critics acknowledged his personal integrity and long-standing commitment to democratic politics. Over the decades, he survived several violent political attacks, including a brutal assault in Chattogram’s New Market area in 1980, where his leg was seriously injured, as well as attacks during anti-government movements in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
However, amid the grief and emotional atmosphere surrounding the funeral, controversy also emerged over political slogans and processions following the prayer. Chants of “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” echoed through parts of the mosque premises, while reports of Awami League processions across several city areas sparked mixed reactions among the public.
Particularly, a large procession stretching from WASA intersection to GEC Circle attracted significant public attention. Some citizens questioned whether a funeral for a veteran freedom fighter should have remained solely within the boundaries of mourning, prayers, and national respect rather than turning into a display of political strength.
Political observers noted that while the state had attempted to ensure a respectful and dignified farewell, the actions of some enthusiastic party activists unintentionally created discomfort and public debate. The situation also placed law enforcement agencies under scrutiny, although no formal official statement had been issued regarding the matter at the time of writing.
Despite the controversy, one reality remained undeniable — Engineer Mosharraf Hossain’s influence on Chattogram politics ran deep. The extraordinary public turnout at his funeral reflected not only his political importance but also the emotional connection many people felt toward him.
Among those who attended the funeral and paid tribute were Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain and former Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, alongside leaders from different political parties, freedom fighters, social figures, and members of the cultural community.
Following another funeral prayer in Mirsharai, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain will be laid to rest with full state honors at his family graveyard in Dhum village, the very place where his journey began more than eight decades ago.
His passing marks the end of an important political era in Chattogram. In death, as in life, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain remained at the center of public emotion, political memory, and historical reflection — leaving behind a legacy deeply woven into the story of Bangladesh’s politics, liberation struggle, and national development.