Syed Ashraf Hossain, a Language Movement veteran and an organiser of the Liberation War in Patuakhali, passed away at Eastern Hospital in the city on Saturday night at the age of 78.

He left behind his wife, only son and thousands of friends and admirers to mourn his death.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises after Zohr prayers yesterday. Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar attended the namaz-e-janaza.

Earlier, Awami League leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon and National Professor Nurul Islam paid their last respect to Ashraf at the Central Shah eed Min ar.

His body will be kept on the local Shaheed Minar premises in Patuakhali today from 10:00am to 11:00am to let local people show their last respect to their leader, family sources said.

He will be buried with state honour in his family graveyard at Dhulia village in Bauphal after namaz-e-janazas at the Eidgah and at Bauphal High School playground today.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and Deputy Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddique in separate statements condoled the death of Ashraf, a leader ofNationalAwami Party (NAP).

NAP President Prof Muzaffar .Ahmed, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, acting CPB president Shahidullah Chowdhury, Left Democratic Front, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Krishak League and Bangladesh Shanty Parishad also condoled his death.