Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s seventh death anniv today

The seventh death anniversary of valiant freedom fighter, former minister and former undivided Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka is being observed on Wednesday (November 4).

Khoka, a former vice-chairman of the BNP, died at a hospital in New York on November 4, 2019. He was also one of the founders of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and served as chairman of the governing bodies of Dhaka Wanderers Club and Farashganj Club. He played a leading role in the anti-autocracy movement and various democratic struggles.

Born on May 12, 1952, in Gopibagh of Old Dhaka, Khoka initially followed the leftist politics of Maulana Bhashani before joining the BNP in the 1980s. He served as president of the BNP's Dhaka city unit and held various positions on the party's executive committee, including assistant organising secretary. He eventually became the party's vice-chairman.

Khoka was elected a member of parliament in the 1991, 1996 and 2001 national elections. During his tenure in parliament, he served as minister for youth and sports and minister for fisheries and livestock. On April 25, 2002, the guerrilla freedom fighter was elected mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation.

He travelled to the United States on May 14, 2014, for medical treatment. While he was staying there, several corruption cases were filed against him in Bangladesh, and he was convicted in some of them.