Lawmaker Ali Ashraf dies at 73

Professor Md Ali Ashraf, a lawmaker from Cumilla-7 constituency and a former deputy speaker of parliament, has died in hospital care at the age of 73.

Ashraf, who was on life support in Dhaka's Square Hospital, passed away around 4 pm on Friday, his aide Abdul Kuddus Hawlader said, reports bdnews24.com.

The lawmaker, who was also the chairman of the parliamentary committee on government assurances, had been suffering from a combination of age-related problems and diabetes for a while.

He was admitted to Square Hospital on Jul 10 and was subsequently moved into intensive care as his condition deteriorated. He was later placed on life support on Jul 21.

Ashraf was serving his fifth term in parliament as a representative from Cumilla.

He became the deputy speaker of parliament after Abdul Hamid, the current president of Bangladesh, took over the post of speaker following the death of Humayun Rashid Choudhury in 2001.

Ashraf also served as the finance and planning secretary of the Awami League and was the president of the ruling party's Cumilla North District unit.

Ashraf was born in Cumilla's Gallai village in 1948. Having taught in various colleges, he was appointed as director of the Mujibnagar government's foreign ministry in 1971.

According to a BSS report, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Professor Md Ali Ashraf.

In a message of condolence, the Prime Minister said, "In his death, we have lost a valiant Freedom Fighter, a veteran politician, a true soldier of the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a patriotic people's leader."

She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.