Veteran Awami League politician and former religious affairs minister, Principal Motiur Rahman, passed away yesterday due to old-age complications . He was 81 years old.

Motiur, a valiant freedom fighter and recipient of the Ekushey Padak award, breathed his last at 11:00pm while undergoing treatment at Nexus Hospital in Mymensingh.

His elder brother, Zia Uddin Ahmed, confirmed this to The Daily Star.

He is survived by his wife, a son, and three daughters.

Born in 1942 in Akua village in Mymensingh Sadar upazila, he served as a member of the advisory committee of the Bangladesh Awami League until his death.

Motiur was elected as a member of parliament from Mymensingh-4 in 1986, 1996, and 2008. In 2014, he was appointed as the minister of religious affairs.

He also held the positions of president and general secretary of Mymensingh District Awami League for an extended period.

Besides his illustrious political career, he also taught at Nandina College in Jamalpur District and later at Nasirabad College in Mymensingh.

In 1969, he founded Alamgir Mansur Mintu Memorial College and served as its principal until 2002.