The funeral of Satyapriya Mohathero, the second highest Buddhist leader of Bangladesh and head of Sima Bihar of Ramu in Cox's Bazar, was completed at Ramu on Saturday (February 29), almost five months after his death. The Buddhist leader’s three-day funeral programme was held as per the religious rituals after his mortal remains were preserved for 148 days.
More than 700 religious leaders from 20 countries and many others joined the funeral programme.
Satyapriya Mohathero died at a hospital in the capital on October 4 at the age of 89. Born at Ramu in 1930, he became a monk in 1950 and took over as the President of the Bangladesh Sangharaja of Bhikkhu Mahasabha in 2006. He received the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2015 for social work as he was revered for sheltering people regardless of caste, creed and colour in Ramu Bihar.
Satyapriya Mohathero’s three-day funeral programme began on Thursday. People from all walks of life, including political leaders, joined the funeral programme to pay last respect to the Buddhist leader. The programmes included funeral procession, commemoration ceremony, religious ceremony, photo exhibition, banquet and uniform prayer offered by religious leaders from home and abroad.
Chief Coordinator of the funeral observing committee Tarun Barua said, following the inaugural session of the funeral ‘Along Dance’, a type of special dance was performed and prayers were offered asking for Mahathero’s salvation. A BNP delegation, led by the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam, joined the funeral of Satyapriya on the second day on Friday. They paid their tributes to him by placing a wreath at the coffin. BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP chairperson’s adviser and DU professor Dr Sukumar Barua, the party’s central leader Lutfur Rahman Kazal and Cox’s Bazar district BNP president Shahjahan Chowdhury were also present at the time.
Earlier, Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam spoke at a commemorative rally as the chief guest on Friday morning. Awami League’s office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua inaugurated the commemorative rally. Saimum Sarwar Komol, MP, Ashik Ullah Rafique, MP, Cox’s Bazar DC Kamal Hossain, Police Super ABM Masud Hossain were also present at the time.
HT Imam along with others also paid homage to Satyapriya Mohathero by placing wreath at his coffin.
