BANGLADESH

Gultekin Khan, the estranged wife of virtuoso writer Humayun Ahmed who died on July 19, visited her former husband's grave at Nuhashpalli in Gazipur for the first time on Thursday, and prayed for the departed soul.

Sculptor of Nuhashpalli, favourite retreat of the popular Bengali fiction writer, Asaduzzaman said Gultekin accompanied by her in–laws arrived at the grave around 10am.

The in-laws accompanying Gultekin were her mother-in-law Ayesha Fayez, her two sons Zafar Iqbal and Ahsan Habib, and their three sisters Sufia Haider, Mamtaz Shahid and Rokhsana Ahmed. Humayun's nephew and nieces also went there along with their families.

Humayun's fan visiting the grave that time also joined the prayer.

The celebrated writer was buried at Nuhaspalli on July 24.

Humayun's second wife Meher Afroz Shaon visited the grave along with her two sons a day before the Eid.

Ayesha Foyez, mother of late celebrated writer Humayun Ahmed, gave a handful of soil to her son's grave taking it from the grave of her husband Foyezur Rahman, who embraced martyrdom during the Liberation War in 1971.

She also offered Fatiha at the grave of her son at his Gazipur retreat Nuhash Palli on Saturday and planted sapling of Talipalm or Corypha Taliera Roxburgh on the site. She also planted saplings in the west to the 'Ma O Shishu' sculpture near the main entrance of Nuhash Palli.

Ayesha Foyez went to Nuhash Palli for the first time since the burial of the author, playwright and filmmaker on July 24.

Her sister Rizia Begum, her husband Apple Haider, daughters Roksana Ahmed and Sufia Haider, and son Ahsan Habib accompanied her during the visit.

Mohammad Asaduzzaman, the sculptor of Nuhash Palli, told bdnews24.com that Ayesha Foyez also offered a special prayer seeking eternal peace for the soul of her son.

She also recited from the holy Quran on the occasion.

Her younger son cartoonist Ahsan Habib said that the soil was brought from their father's grave in Pirojpur district.

His father, Foyzur Rahman Ahmed, a police officer and writer, was killed by Pakistani military in Pirojpur district during the Liberation War in 1971.

After the 'ziarat', Ayesha Foyez and her family members moved around Nuhash Palli and enquired about the employees. They started for Dhaka in the afternoon.

Noted author, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, 64, died at a hospital in the US on July 19 after a nearly 10-month battle against colon cancer.