Former CEC Abdur Rouf passes away

Rouf breathed his last at 10am on Sunday while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit at private Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital Dhaka, said his personal assistant Md Tawhid.

As per the family's wish, Rouf will be laid to rest in his ancestral home in Mymensingh after official procedures in Dhaka, said Tawhid.

JusticeRouf played role as the 5th CEC after the fall of HM Ershad regime in the 1990s.

Following the formation of Bangladesh's first caretaker government, headed by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Justice Rouf was appointed as the CEC.

For the first time during the interim government's tenure, Bangladesh had a three-member Election Commission (EC). Justice Rouf joined as the CEC the day after Justice Sultan Hossain Khan’s resignation.

Under Justice Rouf ’s leadership, the 5th parliamentary elections were held on February 27, 1991, with BNP and Awami League 140 and 88 securing seats respectively.

The Rouf Commission, during the caretaker government’s tenure, made significant reforms to the electoral law and issued the Election Officer (Special Provision) Ordinance.

On April 18, 1995, Justice AbdurRouf resigned from the position of 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, reports UNB.

He also served as the central president of the national children and youth organisation, ‘Phulkuri Ashar.'