ISESAKI, JAPAN | July 15 (V7N) — Bangladeshi expatriate Mohammad Shafiq Razu has passed away in Japan at the age of 57 (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un). He died early on Tuesday morning at 5:00 a.m. at Nihara Hospital in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, where he had been on life support following a brain stroke on July 1.
 
Razu is survived by his Japanese wife and their son.
 
Originally from Bejgaw village in Louhajang Upazila of Munshiganj district, Bangladesh, Razu moved to Japan in 1994 and became a permanent resident in Isesaki. In 2002, he established a halal food store named "Isesaki Razu Halal Food," which gained popularity among both Bangladeshi and Japanese communities. The store, however, closed down in 2010.
 
His death has cast a shadow of grief over the Bangladeshi diaspora in Japan. Many have taken to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute to his memory.
 
His funeral prayer (janazah) is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, after the Asr prayer, at Isesaki Mosque. He will be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Kodama, Honjo City, located in Saitama Prefecture.
 
Razu was respected not only for his contributions to the expatriate community but also for his efforts to establish a cultural and religious connection for Muslims living in Japan. His passing is deeply mourned by relatives, friends, and the broader community.
 
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