Death of Hassan Ariff: Bangladesh to observe state mourning on Monday

The Government of Bangladesh will observe a state mourning on Monday, following the death of AF Hassan Ariff, the adviser to the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, in the interim government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

The Cabinet Division issued a notification regarding this matter on Sunday.

On this occasion, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions, educational establishments, as well as on all government and private buildings and at Bangladesh missions abroad, on Monday.

Special prayers will be held in all mosques across Bangladesh for the salvation of his soul on Monday.

Other religious institutions will also organize special prayers for the peace of his soul.

It is noteworthy that AF Hassan Ariff was taken to Labaid Hospital on Friday afternoon after falling ill, where doctors declared him dead. He was 83 years old.

His first funeral prayer was held on Friday after the Esha prayer at the Baitul Aman Mosque, Dhanmondi-7.

His second funeral prayer was conducted on Saturday at 11am at the High Court premises, followed by a third one at the Secretariat at noon.

Currently, his body is being kept in the morgue of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.

After his daughter returns from Canada, his burial will take place on Monday at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in the capital.

In the interim government formed on August 8, AF Hassan Ariff initially served as Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Land.

Later, he was assigned the responsibilities of the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

A senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, Hassan Ariff had been practicing law since 1970.

He served as the Attorney General from October 2001 to April 2005 and as the Legal Adviser to the Caretaker Government from January 2008 to 2009.

He began his career in 1967 at the Kolkata High Court in West Bengal, India, before moving to Dhaka in 1970 to practice law at the High Court.

Throughout his career, Hasan Arif held advisory roles in several institutions, including the Roads and Highways Department, Chittagong Port Authority, Mongla Port Authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong Development Authority, Chittagong Stock Exchange, the University Grants Commission, and Grameenphone Bangladesh.

He was also an adviser to the Dhakeshwari National Temple Complex.