Comilla City Corporation Mayor and Metropolitan unit Awami League General Secretary Arfanul Haque Rifat has passed away. He was 65.
He died while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at 6:30pm (Bangladesh time) on Wednesday, Comilla-6 MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune.
According to family sources, Mayor Rifat had been battling various respiratory complications and lung infections for a long time.
On Wednesday, he was admitted to the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital located in Shyamoli area of the capital due to decreased oxygen saturation. He was under treatment at the ICU there.
As his physical condition deteriorated, the doctor advised him to take him to Singapore. On Monday, he was taken to Singapore where he breathed his last.
Arfanul Haque Rifat was elected as the Comilla city mayor after defeating the two-time mayor Monirul Haque Sakku in the Comilla city elections in 2022.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed shock and sorrow at the death of Comilla City Corporation Mayor and Comilla Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Arfanul Haque Rifat.
In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said that Arfanul Haque will remain in the hearts of the people of this region through his works.
The PM prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family.