People from all walks of life paid their last tribute to eminent elocutionist and cultural personality Qazi Arif as his body was kept to Central Shahed Minar premises in Dhaka today.

After the body was taken to Shaheed Minar premises around 11:45am, Arif was given guard of honour in presence of Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, reports our photographer from the spot.

After one and a half hours, his body was taken to Dhaka University central mosque where his namaj-e-janaza was held. From the DU campus, the body was taken to his daughter’s house at Dhanmondi.

Arif will be buried tomorrow at Martyred Intellectual Graveyard at Mirpur, said his daughter Antara.

Earlier Around 9:00am, the body arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from New7 York.

An architect and freedom fighter, Arif was famous for poetry recitation in Bangla.

The elocutionist passed away at a New York hospital Saturday night at the age of 65. He was on life support as his health condition deteriorated following a heart operation at the hospital on April 25.