Former justice and chief election commissioner Md Abdur Rouf passed away while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital. He was 95.
Rouf breathed his last at 10:00am on Sunday while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital Dhaka, said his personal assistant Md Tawhid, reported United News of Bangladesh.
In a condolence message, chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus said that Abdur Rouf would repeatedly be referred to as an example in Bangladesh鈥檚 democratic journey and he would live forever in the hearts of the people of the country through his work, another UNB report said.
Yunus prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family members.
Meanwhile, the judicial functions of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court remained suspended from 2:00pm on Sunday in respect to justice Abdur Rouf, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.
As per the family鈥檚 wish, Rouf will be laid to rest in his ancestral home in Mymensingh after official procedures in Dhaka, said Tawhid.
Justice Rouf played role as the 5th CEC after the fall of HM Ershad regime in the 1990s.
Following the formation of Bangladesh鈥檚 first caretaker government, headed by justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Rouf was appointed as the CEC.
Under Rouf 鈥檚 leadership, the 5th parliamentary elections were held on February 27, 1991, with Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Awami League 140 and 88 securing seats respectively.
The Rouf Commission, during the caretaker government鈥檚 tenure, made significant reforms to the electoral law and issued the Election Officer (Special Provision) Ordinance.
On April 18, 1995, Rouf resigned from the position of the CEC and returned to his position as an HC judge.
He was appointed as a judge of the Appellate Division in June 1995 and retired on February 1, 1999.
After retirement, he served as Shariah adviser for Fareast Islami Life Insurance Company Ltd and Prime Islamic Life Insurance Company.
He also served as the central president of the national children and youth organisation, 鈥楶hulkuri Ashar.鈥�