Dipu Moni Granted Parole to Attend Husband’s Funeral

The body of Tawfiq Nawaz, husband of Awami League leader and former minister Dipu Moni, was taken to Azad Mosque in Gulshan on Thursday for his funeral prayers. Nawaz, a Supreme Court lawyer, died on Tuesday night at a hospital in Dhaka after suffering from prolonged kidney and liver complications.

While his body was transported in a freezer van, Dipu Moni was taken separately in a prison van under tight security. She was granted parole for 12 hours to attend the final rites of her husband.

Dipu Moni was brought from Munshiganj Jail to Dhaka at around 6.15am on Thursday. A heavily guarded prison van transported her to the capital, and she reached her residence in Kalabagan at approximately 8.15am.

The body of Tawfiq Nawaz was also taken to the Kalabagan residence in the morning. It was placed inside a freezer van in the garage beneath the house, where arrangements were made to keep the body until the funeral prayers.

Near the vehicle, five people, including the muezzin of the local Bashir Uddin Road Mosque, were seen reciting the Quran. Police maintained a heightened security presence around the residence and questioned people entering the premises.

Several Awami League activists and acquaintances visited the house to offer their condolences to Dipu Moni. Zakia Sultana Shefali of the Chandpur Awami League was among those who came to see her.

Speaking to reporters, Shefali said Dipu Moni was in a deeply distressed state following her husband’s death. Several other supporters accompanying her also met Dipu Moni at the residence.

A relative of Dipu Moni, who declined to be named, said she had been emotionally devastated and was struggling to cope with the loss. The relative said she was so distressed that she did not want to eat.

According to the family’s arrangements, Tawfiq Nawaz’s body was scheduled to be taken to Azad Mosque in Gulshan around noon. Funeral prayers were to be held there after Zuhr prayers, following which he was expected to be buried at Banani Cemetery.

Kalabagan police station officer-in-charge Md Fazle Ashik said Dipu Moni would remain inside the prison van during the funeral prayers. If there was sufficient time within the terms of her parole, she could also be taken to the cemetery for the burial. Otherwise, she would be returned to jail.

Her parole was scheduled to remain in effect until 6pm on Thursday.

Tawfiq Nawaz, aged 76, had reportedly been suffering from various complications involving his kidneys and liver for a considerable period. His death brought together family members and close associates for the final farewell amid heightened security.

Dipu Moni is currently detained at Munshiganj Jail after being arrested in connection with several cases filed following the 2024 movement. Her temporary release on parole allowed her to be present during the funeral proceedings, although her movements remained subject to strict security arrangements and the limited duration of the parole.