First Rangpur mayor Jhantu passes away

Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, the first mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, passed away at a hospital in the capital yesterday.

He was 66.

Heman Ahmed, son of Jhantu, confirmed the death to journalists.

He suffered a stroke on January 31 night at home. Family members admitted him to a private hospital in Rangpur the same night. Next day, he was brought to Dhaka as his condition was deteriorating.

He had been receiving treatment at ICU of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where he breathed his last around 3:30pm. 

Jhantu served as the first mayor of Rangpur City Corporation for 5 years since 2012. He also contested the mayoral election held on December 21 last year with AL nomination, but he lost to Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, a Jatiya Party (JP) candidate.

He was a freedom fighter and advisory member of Rangpur AL.

Born on July 7, 1952, Jhantu joined politics in early 1980s. He became an upazila chairman in 1987.

Later, in 1992 and 1998 he was elected as chairman of Rangpur Municipality.

In 1996, he contested national election and was elected as the lawmaker of Rangpur-1 (Gangachara).

According to the family members, his first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Jatiya Sangshad premises today. His body will then be brought to Rangpur where he will be buried at Nurpur graveyard in the afternoon after another namaz-e-janaza.