Senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Toufique Newaz was laid to rest beside his mother’s grave at Banani Cemetery in Dhaka on Thursday, with his wife, former minister Dipu Moni, attending the funeral after being granted a 12-hour parole from prison.
Dipu Moni, who is currently detained at Munshiganj District Jail in connection with several cases filed following the 2024 political movement, was temporarily released under strict security arrangements so that she could attend her husband’s funeral rites. After completing the burial and related religious formalities, she was taken back to the jail before the end of the allotted parole period.
Toufique Newaz was buried beside his mother’s grave at Banani Cemetery. Their daughter, Dipanbita Newaz, placed soil on her father’s grave during the burial. A prayer was subsequently offered by Mawlana Omar Faruk, imam of the Banani Graveyard Mosque. Family members and close relatives, including Dipu Moni, took part in the supplication.
After the burial, Dipu Moni also visited the grave of her father, MA Wadud, who was among the founding leaders of the Awami League. She offered prayers at his grave before leaving the cemetery. As rain fell, she was escorted to a prison van and taken back towards Munshiganj District Jail.
Earlier in the day, Dipu Moni was released on parole in the early hours to attend the final rites of her husband. At around 6.15am, she was brought from Munshiganj to Dhaka in a prison van under heavy police security. She reached her residence in Kalabagan at about 8.15am, while security was tightened around the area. People entering or leaving the vicinity were reportedly questioned by members of the law-enforcement agencies.
Later, shortly after 12.15pm, a freezer van carrying Toufique Newaz’s body left for Azad Mosque in Gulshan. Dipu Moni was taken there separately in a prison van. His funeral prayer was held at the mosque after the Zuhr prayer.
During the funeral prayer, Dipu Moni remained inside the prison van. Once the prayer ended, she was allowed to come out and see her husband’s body for the final time. The moment was marked by visible emotion among family members and those present.
At around 2pm, she was taken to Banani Cemetery, where the burial and subsequent prayers were completed. She then visited her father’s grave before returning to the prison van.
Toufique Newaz had served for many years as a senior advocate in the country’s highest court and was known within legal circles for his long professional career. His funeral and burial were attended by family members, relatives and people acquainted with him through his legal profession.
Dipu Moni’s brief parole was granted specifically to allow her to participate in her husband’s final rites. Her movements throughout the period remained under close security supervision. Once the burial, prayers and family obligations were completed, the temporary period of parole came to an end, and she was returned to Munshiganj District Jail.
