Doctors declared him dead at 5:55pm after all medical treatment had been exhausted. Azad was suffering from stomach cancer and had been on an artificial respiratory system since yesterday morning.

With his death, curtain fell on a chequered political career spanning over more than six decades that saw many upheavals in national life. Azad was one of the independence leaders of Bangladesh and a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the long-drawn struggle for the country's independence in 1971.

A pall of gloom descended on the political arena as hundreds of mourners including long-time party associates, politicians irrespective of party affiliations, admirers, relatives and general members of the public flocked to BIRDEM Hospital and then to the deceased's Kalabagan residence.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held after Esha prayers at Dolphin Mosque in Kalabagan.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina led a long list of mourners who gave condolence messages at the death of Azad, country's first as well as the immediate-past foreign minister.

Earlier, Azad, who was thought to have died after doctors failed to feel his pulse for seven minutes yesterday morning, was put on a respirator. A large number of people gathered in front of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the third floor of the BIRDEM Hospital at Shahbagh, as words spread fast that the veteran Awami League (AL) leader had died in the morning.

However, Azizus Samad, the eldest son of Azad, after discussion with Prof Omar Faruk of the ICU, decided that his father's treatment would continue in line with the doctor's advice.

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, Hasina's son Sajib Wazed Joy, AL senior leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Amir Hossain Amu, Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Chief Whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Opposition Chief Whip Abdus Shahid and other leaders and supporters of the Awami League and its front organisations went to the hospital and his Kalabagan residence.

Azad left behind three sons -- Azizus Samad Don, Atikus Samad and Toufiq Samad -- and daughter Nafiza Noor Shilpi to mourn him. His wife Noor Nahar Samad died in 1997.

Azad, a legend in Bangladesh politics, first suffered major ailment in August last year and was treated in Chennai, India. He was later admitted to Sikdar Medical in Dhaka for a month before he had a medical check-up again in Chennai in November last year. He fell ill upon placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of February 21 and since then had been under doctors' care at the BIRDEM Hospital.

Loved and admired by leaders and workers of all parties for his wit and good sense of humour, Azad served his party until the last days of his life. Even when he was in hospital, Azad discharged the responsibilities of acting party chief in absence of AL President Sheikh Hasina, who only recently was away in the US and the Philippines for a month.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil rang up Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury to ask for a helicopter for flying the mortal remains of Azad to his village home in Sunamganj, sources said. Later, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia ordered for a helicopter to carry the body today.

Party and family sources said the body would be taken to the AL headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue at 9:00am today to facilitate people to pay their last respect to the leader. A namaz-e-janaza would be held at Paltan Maidan at 10:30am before the body is flown to Sunamganj with a stopover in Sylhet. Azad's body would be flown back to Dhaka for burial next to his wife's grave at Banani Graveyard.

CONDOLENCES
President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday expressed deep condolences at the death of the former foreign minister and veteran parliamentarian.

In a condolence message, the president respectfully recalled the contribution of the late leader to the country's democratic movement and to efforts to give parliamentary democracy an institutional shape.

In a separate condolence message, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Khaleda Zia yesterday expressed her deep shock at the death. She recalled the contribution of Azad to the country's independence and democratic movement.

"The nation has lost an experienced leader and parliamentarian following his demise… This loss is irreparable to the nation," observed the prime minister.

Leader of the Opposition and AL President Sheikh Hasina last night said the nation lost a glorious son of the soil, an experienced parliamentarian and a symbol of national conscience at his demise.

"And personally I lost my guardian and a far-sighted and trusted colleague," she said in a message of condolence.

"With his death an era came to an end... an irreparable vacuum has been created in the national politics."

The AL chief said the contribution of Azad as one of the pioneers of Bangalee's national struggle and movement for vote and food will be written in golden letters in history.

Azad had also played a glorious role in reconstruction of the country after independence and giving the foreign policy of a newborn country foundation under the guidelines of Bangabandhu, Hasina continued.

"After the killing of Bangabandhu, he played a leading role in reviving the stream of pro-liberation fight against the reactionary forces and establishing people's right to vote and food."

In a separate condolence message, BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan termed Azad's death a loss of experienced parliamentarian and politician.

LIFE SKETCH
Son of late Shariatullah, Azad was born on January 15 in 1926 at Burakhali village of Jagannathpur Upazila of Sunamganj district. After graduating from MC College in Sylhet, he studied law and history at Dhaka University.

In his chequered political life lasting six and a half decades, Azad played a significant role in the struggle for language, democracy and independence and in the Liberation War.

He spent most of his time doing opposition politics and went underground and to prison to establish people's rights. He won parliament elections in 1970 during the then East Pakistan and in 1973, 1991, 1996 and 2001 after independence.

As a special envoy of Bangladesh government, Azad travelled across the globe mobilising world opinion for the War of Independence in 1971. He was also a political advisor to the Mujibnagar Government in exile in 1971.

He became the first Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and later Agriculture Minister of the Bangabandhu government. After the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, Azad was arrested and jailed along with four national leaders. On his release in 1978, he returned to active politics.

In 1953, Azad became acting President of East Pakistan Jubo League and was AL's Labour Affairs Secretary between 1955 and 1957.The then Pakistani Government attached his property and issued a arrest warrant in 1954. He was also arrested in 1956, 1958 and 1964.

In 1940, he was the President of Sunamganj Mahakuma Muslim Chhatra Federation. He was arrested during that time for his involvement in the anti-British movement. He was elected Sylhet District Muslim Chhatra Federation President for 1944-48 tenure.

In 1954, he was first elected Member of Legislative Assembly on Jukta Front ticket. Azad was never defeated in election except in the 1986 polls under the martial law regime.

He played an important role in the movement for neutral caretaker government in 1991 as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Azad was appointed Foreign Minister of the Sheikh Hasina government in 1996.