The funeral of artiste of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Bipul Bhattachariya held today with full state honour after expressing profound love and respect of people at every level.

The body of veteran artiste kept on Central Shaheed Minar in the capital today for people to pay their last tributes.

A gloomy atmosphere prevailed at the Central Shaheed Minar premises when his coffin was taken to around 11:00 am from mortuary of BIRDEM Hospital.

Sammilito Sanskritik Jote organized the event under the supervision of Dhaka Executive Magistrate Amitabd Porag in the morning.

Assistant Military Secretary to the President Colonel M Zakir Hossain and Prime Minister's Special Assistant (media) Mahbubul Huq Shakil offered floral tribute on behalf of them followed by other representatives of politicians and cultural personalities and academics.

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and information and research affairs secretary Afzal Hossain paid last homage by placing a floral wreath on behalf of Bangladesh Awami League.

Other singers of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Abdul Zabbar, Timir Nandi, Fakir Alamgir, Shahin Samad, Ashraful Alam, Lily Islam, Manoranjan Ghoshal, Ashrafur Rahman Khan, Nasim Chowdhury were present at Shaheed Minar, among others, to bid farewell to the eminent singer.

Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, actors Ramendra Majumder, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Golam Kuddus and Hasan Arif, Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Television (BTV), DG of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky were also paid tribute to the freedom fighter.

Representatives of Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Workers Party, Dhaka Mohanagar Awami League, Awami Shilpi Goshti, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Forum, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Udjapon Committee, Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan Parishad, Rishij, Kranti, Bangladesh Group Theater Federation, Bangladesh Abrity Shamonnai Parishad, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Liberation War Museum, Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, Shatten Shilpi Gosthi, Kishoreganj Shilpakala Academy and other organizations were also paid tribute to the freedom fighter.

After the tribute, the coffin was taken to Postagola Cremation Ground at 1 am for cremation.

Renowned artiste of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Bipul Bhattacharya, died at a city hospital after battling with lung cancer on Friday at the age of 58.

Ends/AMA/06/07/13