JP ex-presidium member Khaled Akhtar dies

Maj (retd) Khaled Akhtar, chairman of HM Ershad Trust and former presidium member of Jatiya Party, passed away yesterday after a battle with Covid-19."He died at around 6am at Dhaka CMH while undergoing treatment," Khandaker Deloar Jalali, JP chairman's deputy press secretary, told the media.

Khaled, also former personal secretary of JP founder HM Ershad, had been on life support for the last few days. He was diagnosed with dengue over a month back and then tested positive for coronavirus.

Khaled, also a nephew of Ershad, left behind his wife, three sons and a daughter to mourn his death.He joined JP after retiring from army in 1986. He had worked as Ershad's personal secretary first. Later, he was made JP treasurer and then its presidium member. He was dropped from JP presidium after the party's ninth national council following the demise of Ershad.

Before his death, Ershad formed a trust and donated his assets to it. Later, Khaled was made its chairman.

JP Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga condoled his death.