Former justice and chief election commissioner (CEC) Md Abdur Rouf has passed away while undergoing treatment at a city hospital at the age of 91.
According to his personal assistant, Md Tawhid, Justice Rouf breathed his last at 10am on Sunday while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka.
As per the family's wishes, Rouf will be laid to rest in his ancestral home in Mymensingh after completing official procedures in Dhaka, Tawhid added.
Justice Rouf played a significant role as the 5th CEC following the fall of the HM Ershad regime in the 1990s.
After 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.
Justice Rouf assumed the role of 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 securing 140 seats and the Awami League winning 88 seats.
During the caretaker government’s tenure, the Rouf Commission implemented significant reforms to the electoral law and issued the Election Officer (Special Provision) Ordinance.
On April 18, 1995, Justice Abdur Rouf resigned from the position of CEC and returned to his role as a High Court 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 a Shariah adviser for Fareast Islami Life Insurance Company Ltd and Prime Islamic Life Insurance Company.
He also served as the central president of the national children’s and youth organization, ‘Phulkuri Ashar.’
