Namaj-e-Janaza of Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Maulana Obaidul Haq was held at the National Eidgah in Dhaka yesterday.Photo: STAR

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Maulana Obaidul Haq passed away on Saturday night at the city's Labaid Hospital. He was 79.
The Khatib, a former teacher of Dhaka Alia Madrasa, was admitted to the hospital at about 8:30pm after he complained of respiratory problems. He died there at 10:30pm, reports UNB.
He is survived by two wives, four sons, seven daughters and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.
Namaj-e-Janaza for Maulana Obaidul Haq was held at the National Eidgah on the Supreme Court premises at 3:02 pm yesterday. Mufti Maulana Ataul Haq, son of the late Khatib, conducted the namaj-e-janaza.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed attended the janaza with a large number of people from all walks of life.
Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein, Religious Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman, Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, PSO of Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masududdin Chowdhury, former president HM Ershad, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami, Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Azizul Huq, IOJ chairman Mufti Fazlul Huq Aminee, senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram Mosque Mufti Mohammad Nuruuddin and Pir of Charmonai Maulana Rezaul Karim, among others, attended the janaza.
He was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard at 4:00pm yesterday.
Maulana Obaidul Haq was appointed Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram mosque in 1984. He held the post till his death.
Born on May 2 in 1928 to Zahurul Haq -- himself a pious man -- in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet, Maulana Obaidul Haq was schooled at neighbouring Biyanibazar Quomi Madrasa where he honed his skills in Arabic, Urdu and Persian.
He also studied at Munshibazar Ayeragaon Madrasa, founded by his father, for two years.
The late Khatib then headed for the famous Darul Uloom Deoband Madrasa in 1942 and received special expertise in Tafsir and Hadith from Maulana Hossain Ahmad Madani and Hazrat Idris Kandulabhi.
He was one of the founders of the Nizam-e-Islam Party in Pakistan.
Maulana Obaid later joined Dhaka's Bara Katara Hossainya Ashraful Uloom Madrasa in 1950, teaching Bukhari and Tirmizi Sharif. In 1952 he joined Dhaka Aliya Madrasa as a teacher, where he lectured on Hadith as a Muhaddis between 1964 and 1971.
He served as an assistant professor at the Tafsir Department from 1971 to 1973, and was the additional vice principal from 1973 through 1979.
He was the Shaikhul Hadith at Chittagong's Patia Madrasa between 1986 and 1987, and held the same position at Sylhet's Jamia Kasim-ul Dargah Madrasa since 1987 until his death.
He was also a professor at Fayzul Uloom Madrasa at Azimpur in the city.
The late Khatib was a member of National Sharia Council and served as the chairman at the Sharia council of a number of other organisations, including Islami Bank and Islami Insurance.
He authored nine books and received Khelafat title from Hazrat Maulana Hossain Ahmad Madani of Deoband and later from Maulana Mohammadullah Hafezzi Huzur.
The Khatib was also one of the main conveners of the Khatme Nabuwat Movement, and the president of Majlis-e-Tahafuz-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat.
CONDOLENCES
President Iajuddin Ahmed has expressed deep shock at the death of Khatib Maulana Obaidul Haq.
Country's religious people would ever remember, with deep gratitude, Maulana Obaidul Haq's contribution to promoting and expanding Islam, said President Iajuddin, recalling the professional life of the Khatib.
In a condolence message, the president also said the Khatib played a leading role in different national issues to maintain communal harmony in the country. The country lost a noted Islamic thinker at the death of Maulana Obaidul Huq, he added.
The president prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Religious Affairs Advisor Maj Gen Dr ASM Matiur Rahman (retd) also expressed deep shock at the death of Maulana Obaidul Haq.