Staff Reporter :
Adviser to the Interim Government, AF Hassan Ariff, passed away on Friday at Lab Aid Hospital in Dhaka. He was 83.
According to hospital authorities, AF Hassan Ariff succumbed to cardiac arrest at around 3:35 PM. Doctors declared him dead upon arrival at the hospital.
A distinguished Supreme Court lawyer, AF Hassan Ariff had a notable career in law and governance. Born in 1941 in Kolkata, he completed his secondary and higher secondary education at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, before earning his bachelor’s and LLB degrees from the University of Calcutta.
He began his legal career in 1967 at the Kolkata High Court before moving to Dhaka in 1970 to practice at the High Court of Bangladesh.
From October 2001 to April 2005, he served as the Attorney General of Bangladesh. In August 2008, he was appointed as an adviser in the caretaker government under Fakhruddin Ahmed, taking charge of the Ministries of Land and Civil Aviation & Tourism.
Throughout his illustrious career, he served as a legal adviser to numerous organisations, including the Roads and Highways Department, Chittagong Port Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangladesh Bank, University Grants Commission, and Grameenphone.
He was also a trusted adviser to the Dhakeshwari National Temple Complex, leaving behind a legacy of service and dedication to the nation.
AF Hassan Ariff’s passing has deeply saddened the nation. Leaders from various political parties, advisers of the caretaker government, and eminent citizens rushed to the hospital to pay their respects and pray for the eternal peace of his soul.
His funeral arrangements will honour his significant contributions to the country. The first Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Baitul Aman Mosque in Dhanmondi after the Maghrib prayer on Friday. A second Janaza is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Saturday at the High Court premises.
Following the funeral prayers, his body will be laid to rest at the Mirpur Intellectuals’ Cemetery after Zuhr prayer on Saturday, as confirmed by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Earlier, family sources indicated that his daughter, currently residing in Canada, would return to Bangladesh on December 22. However, advisers have confirmed the burial will proceed on Saturday.
AF Hassan Ariff leaves behind an enduring legacy of integrity, dedication, and service. Upon his death, advisers to the interim government, leaders of political parties and prominent citizens rushed to the hospital to pay their respect and sought salvation of the departed soul.
