Former election commissioner Mahbub Talukdar has passed away at the age of 80.
He was brought in dead to United Hospital in the capital at 12:49pm on Wednesday, Sajjadur Rahman of the hospital’s public relations department told Bangla Tribune.
Earlier, his family rushed him to the hospital after his condition worsened around noon.
The former election commissioner had been battling cancer for a long time.
President Md Hamid appointed him as a member of the five-strong Election Commission headed by KM Nurul Huda on February 15, 2017.
Born on February 13, 1942 in Purbadhala upazila of Netrokona, Mahbub Talukdar completed his secondary education at Nawabpur Govt High School, higher secondary at Dhaka College and graduated from Dhaka University.
He was engaged in journalism and teaching at the beginning of his professional career.
Mahbub Talukder fought bravely in the Liberation War in 1971 and later joined the information ministry under the Mujibnagar Government.
Later, he served in different positions during his five years at Bangabhaban. On January 24, 1972, he was appointed as a special officer of then-president Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, before serving as president Mohammad Mohammadullah’s public relations officer. Mahbub Talukder served as the president’s assistant press secretary during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's tenure.
He also served as director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
He held different positions at various ministries and organizations until his retirement as additional secretary in 1999.
Mahbub Talukder was also a prominent writer of Bengali Literature. He wrote 44 books mainly on poetry and fiction.
He was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2012 in recognition of his contribution to the field of Bengali language and literature.
