Muktijudho
Juno Freedom Fighter and Communist leader Haider Anwar Khan Juno dies
Dhaka, October 29: Haider Anwar Khan Juno, a freedom fighter and communist leader, has died. His daughter Ananya Laboni said her father died at the capital's Public Health City Hospital around 1.30pm on Thursday.
Juno, 76, was admitted to Square Hospital in Dhaka on the night of September 15 after suffering a heart attack due to pneumonia. Later, when his physical condition deteriorated, he was on life support on September 24.
As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to Dhanmondi Public Health City Hospital from Square Hospital on October 22.
Ananya Laboni said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina contacted the family on the evening of October 26 to inquire about his condition.
She said, “My father fought in Shibpur of Narsingdi. Many people in that area want to see my father one last time. At their request we plan to place the body in the mortuary of Bardem Hospital today. I am also thinking of taking him to Shaheed Minar tomorrow.”
Haider Anwar Khan Juno will be buried in his parents' grave at Banani Cemetery after the Johar Janazah on Friday, his daughter said.
Juno, younger brother of Communist leader Haider Akbar Khan Rono, was born on 29 December 1944 in Calcutta. Their ancestral home is in Barashula village of Narail. Father Hatem Ali Khan was an engineer. Renowned politician Syed Nowsher Ali is their grandfather.
Juno was introduced to communist politics in school life. Although he did his Masters in Physics from Dhaka University, he took politics as his profession.
Juno joined the education movement in 1962 during the Pakistan period and was imprisoned. He was then an active member of the East Pakistan Students Union. His brother Rano was then the president of the student union. Juno was later elected a member of the central committee of the student union.
Juno was involved in the communist movement in the sixties and was in the pro-China camp. When the Biplobi Chhatra Union was formed in 1970, he became its president.
