Former CEC of Bangladesh Justice Abdur Rouf passes away

Justice Md Abdur Rouf, who served as the chief election commissioner after the fall of military strongman HM Ershad in the early 1990s, has died at the age of 91 (Inna liLLAHI oa inna ilaihi rajiun) .

The former Appellate Division judge passed away around 10:00 am on Sunday during treatment at the Insaf Barakah Kidney Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar, according to his aide Md Tawhid.

"He had been seriously ill for the past two months and was receiving treatment at the hospital. He passed away a short while ago," he said.

"After completing all the formalities in Dhaka, he will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Mymensingh," Tawhid added.

The Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of former Chief Election Commissioner and former Supreme Court Justice Mohammad Abdur Rauf. The Chief Advisor prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased's soul and expressed deep condolences to his bereaved family members.

Rouf served as the country's fifth chief election commissioner from Dec 25, 1990 to Apr 18, 1995.

While he was praised for overseeing the much-anticipated 1991 general elections, his tenure drew controversy due to the Magura by-election in 1994 during the BNP's rule.

Justice Rauf resigned from the post of Chief Election Commissioner eight months before the end of his term and returned to the High Court.

Abdur Rouf is survived by two sons and a daughter, along with numerous admirers. Justice Abdur Rouf's son, Mohammad Arshadur Rouf, is the Additional Attorney General. The Attorney General's Office has expressed condolences on the death of Justice Rouf.