Dhaka, Dec 20 (V7N) — AF Hasan Arif, a distinguished lawyer and former advisor to the Ministry of Land, Civil Aviation, and Tourism in the caretaker government, passed away on Friday at LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi. He was 83 years old.

Born in Kolkata in 1941, Hasan Arif was a renowned figure in the legal community, often referred to as the "encyclopedia of law" for his vast knowledge and expertise. After completing his education at St. Xavier's College and the University of Calcutta, he began his legal career in the Calcutta High Court in 1967. Later, he moved to Dhaka and joined the Bangladesh High Court, where he became a senior lawyer in the Supreme Court.

Arif's career spanned decades, during which he advised foreign investors and worked on complex matters including corporate law, finance, arbitration, and constitutional law. He served as a legal advisor to numerous organizations, such as the Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong Port Authority, Grameenphone, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

From 2001 to 2005, Arif served as the Attorney General of Bangladesh. In the caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he held multiple portfolios, including the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Land, and later the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow, stating, "Hasan Arif will be remembered as a brilliant lawyer and for his active role in protecting the human rights of dissidents and marginalized people." Syeda Rizwana Hasan, another advisor in the caretaker government, described his passing as "the departure of an institution as a lawyer."

President Mohammad Shahabuddin, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed, and several government advisors also expressed their condolences.

AF Hasan Arif’s legacy as a legal luminary and public servant will remain etched in the history of Bangladesh. Funeral arrangements and further details are yet to be announced.

END/AJ/RH