On November 18, 2017, Bayrampaşa Municipality and the Bosnia Sanjak Culture and Solidarity Association organized a memorial ceremony at the Bayrampaşa Municipality Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cultural Center for Şemsudin Kučević, the Mayor of Tutin, who lost his life in a tragic traffic accident on October 12, 2017. The commemoration event, held with a large attendance, was attended by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Hakan Çavuşoğlu, Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives Süleyman Ugıjanin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Montenegro Rafet Husović, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Rasim Lajić, Mayor of Bayrampaşa Atilla Aydıner, Mayor of Tutin Kenan Hot, President of the Bosnia Sanjak Culture and Solidarity Association and Vice President of LASIAD Muhammed Sancaktar, as well as the family of Şemsudin Kučević, and numerous Bosniak citizens.
The program began with the recitation of the Quran and continued with a short film presentation highlighting moments from Şemsudin Kučević’s life. Following the performance of hymns by the Bosniak vocal group Gülistan, protocol speeches were delivered.
Deputy Prime Minister Hakan Çavuşoğlu, speaking at the memorial program, said, “The late Mr. Şemsudin will hopefully be remembered in our prayers with warm and sincere memories as a friend we lost early. Serving as the Mayor of Tutin for an extended period of 6 terms, Mr. Şemsudin has taken his place in history as one of the legendary statesmen and leaders of the Sanjak.”
Muhammed Sancaktar, President of the Bosnia Sanjak Culture and Solidarity Association and Vice President of LASIAD, paid tribute to Şemsudin Kučević and expressed gratitude to the citizens filling the venue.
LASIAD President Gıyasettin Eyyüpkoca and LASIAD Board Member Mehmet Muhammet Yaşar attended the event on behalf of LASIAD.