BNP leader and former minister M Shamsul Islam died at a city hospital yesterday. He was 87.

Shamsul Islam, also a former BNP standing committee member, breathed his last at the United Hospital at 2:00pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a staff of BNP chairperson's office.

He said the former minister had been receiving treatment at the hospital for various old age complications including cancer since April 17.

He is survived by two sons and a host of relatives and admirers.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed deep shock at the death of Shamsul Islam.

Hailing from Munshiganj, Shamsul Islam had been involved with BNP politics for long. He was dropped from the party's standing committee -- the highest policy making body of the party -- in the last council due to his ailment.

He was in charge of different ministries including information, food, industry and commerce when BNP was in power. He was also Bangladesh ambassador to Indonesia during Ziaur Rahman's regime.

His first namaz-e-janaza took place at Gulshan Azad mosque after the Maghrib prayers yesterday. 

The second namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 10:30am today, and the third in front of BNP's Naya Paltan central office at 11:30am, said the party sources. 

Later, his body will be taken to Rampal union in Munshiganj Sadar. He will be laid to eternal rest at the family graveyard after the Juma prayers.

Sayeeful Islam, elder son of Shamsul Islam, is an established businessman and founder president of G-9 -- a think tank. 

Born in January 1, 1932, Shamsul was involved with active politics from student life. He was general secretary of Dhaka district unit of then Jatiya Gonotantrik Front (National Democratic Front (NDF) led by Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy. He was also an executive member of the NDF central committee.

He was general secretary of East Pakistan Family Planning Union from 1968 to 1971. He was also president, secretary and deputy governor of Lions' Club in different terms.

He was also life-term member of Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Asiatic Society, Bangladesh Family Planning Union, Lions' Foundation, Bikrampur Foundation, Munshiganj-Bikrampur Union.

Shamsul Islam was a lawmaker from Munshiganj-3 constituency for a number of times.

He was the state minister for post and telecommunications from March to September, 1991.

He also served the cabinet as the food minister from 1991 to 1993.

He was the minister for commerce from 1993 to 1996. At the same time, he was in charge of the information ministry as well.

He was also land minister from 2001 to 2002, and information minister from 2002 to 2006.