Ex-adviser M Hafizuddin Khan no more

M Hafizuddin Khan, a former adviser to the caretaker government and ex-comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of Bangladesh, passed away yesterday at a private hospital in the capital’s Uttara due to age-related complications. He was 87.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a host of relatives and admirers.

Hafizuddin Khan was rushed to Uttara Crescent Hospital in the morning after he complained of chest pain, his niece Moushumi Mostafa told The Daily Star. He was later put on life support and pronounced dead around 6:00pm, she said.

His namaz-e-janaza will be held at multiple locations today. His two daughters, who live abroad, are expected to arrive in Dhaka today.

He will be laid to rest tomorrow at his village home in Rahmatganj of Sirajganj Sadar upazila.

Born in Sirajganj in 1939, Hafizuddin Khan served as an adviser to the caretaker government in 2001.

He completed his graduation and master’s degrees in political science from Dhaka University in 1960 and 1961 respectively, according to a brief biography published by Midas Financing Limited, where he served as a director. He later obtained a diploma in development finance from the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Hafizuddin joined government service in the Audit and Accounts Cadre in 1964. After 35 years of service, he retired in 1999. In 2001, he served as an adviser to the caretaker government, overseeing the ministries of finance, planning, and textiles and jute.

Widely regarded as a reformer in administrative and financial management, he served as a director of BASIC Bank and Rupali Bank, and as chairman of Agrani Bank.

He also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Transparency International Bangladesh and as president of the central executive committee of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan).