Former deputy speaker of parliament Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui passed away at a city hospital in Dhaka yesterday. He was 71.

Siddiqui, also a member of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's advisory council, breathed his last at United Hospital in Gulshan around 12:15pm, said Syrul Kabir Khan, an official of Khaleda's media wing.

He left behind his wife, two sons and one daughter, and relatives to mourn his death.

Khan said Siddiqui had long been suffering from lung cancer and was taken to the hospital on Saturday morning after he complained of chest pain.

The first namaz-e-janaza of the former deputy speaker was held at 5:30pm in front of BNP's Naya Paltan central office attended by hundreds of party leaders and activists.

His second namaz-e-janaza would be held today at South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 10:30am. His body would be taken to Naogaon and be buried at his family graveyard there.

Born in Naogaon in 1947, Siddiqui joined politics on completion of his graduation from Dhaka University.

He was elected MP with BNP ticket four times since 1991 from Naogaon-3 constituency. He was made the deputy speaker of the Eighth Parliament.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at his death.

In separate condolence messages, they prayed for salvation of his departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to his bereaved family members.