The Council of Advisers on Sunday formally adopted a condolence motion on the death of Civil Aviation, Tourism and Land Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, recalling his contributions and paying deep respect to him. The condolence motion was adopted at a special meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the Chief Adviser's Office with CA Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Forest, Environment and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan placed the condolence motion proposal in the meeting which was unanimously adopted. Adviser AF Hassan Ariff passes away Hassan Ariff will be buried at the Mirpur intellectual graveyard at 10:30 am on Monday next to the grave of Bir Shreshtha Sipahi Hamidur Rahman. At the beginning of the meeting, one-minute silence was observed paying respect to Hassan Ariff. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and other advisors paid tributes to Hassan Ariff. "Today, I remember many things that keep coming to my mind. He kept reminding me that we belong to the same age. He had a simple approach like a child. He appeared to solve any problem that arose, wherever he saw any conflict. This wonderful man has left us," Prof Yunus said. Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said Hassan Ariff was a rare personality with his always smiling face. Reminiscing about his past working life, Jute Textiles and Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain said he is personally deeply saddened by the death of Hassan Ariff. Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Sharmeen Murshid said a beautiful relationship was developed with him after coming to work together here in the Council of Advisers. "He was an inspiration for us. Journalist Mahmodul Hoque no more Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar said they miss Hassan Ariff Arif today in the Council of Advisers' meeting. "Without him, we will face irreparable loss." Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan described his experience working with Hassan Ariff Arif as a lawyer and said that he was always vocal in protecting human rights. Adilur Rahman said Hassan Ariff also worked as the founding vice-president of the human rights organisation Odhikar. Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said that Hassan Ariff was a dedicated and hardworking person who used to examine all the documents thoroughly. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that Hassan Ariff never took any work lightly. Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said Hassan Ariff was an amiable person that any problem could be solved by discussing with him. Energy and Road Transport Adviser M Fawzul Kabir Khan said there is a lot of division in the society and the number of people who can bridge this division is gradually decreasing. "He was accepted by all quarters." Recalling Hassan Ariff’s role during the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997, Adviser on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Supradeep Chakma said he (Ariff) used to think a lot about the people of the CHT. Local Government and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said, "I got to know Hassan Ariff when I became part of the Council of Advisers, and I always found him by my side like a teacher." Information Adviser Nahid Islam said while working with Adviser Ariff,  he never felt the difference in terms of age gap as he used to mix with everyone sincerely. Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said he saw Adviser Ariff working sincerely in organizing a participatory election in 2008. "This time too, he worked with utmost dedication." Cabinet Secretary, Civil Aviation Secretary, and Land Secretary also spoke at the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of valiant freedom fighter Squadron Leader (retd) Badrul Alam, Bir Uttam. PM to inaugurate potentially iconic tunnel project running beneath Karnaphuli River In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said that contribution of this fearless aviator, of the “Kilo-Flight”, to the Liberation War will be remembered. UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva to meet PM Hasina Sunday The premier prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family. Motorcade from PMO makes trial crossing through ‘Bangabandhu Tunnel’ in Ctg

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday visited the Vatican Embassy, formally known as the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, in Dhaka and signed a book of condolences for former Pope Benedict XVI who passed away on December 31, 2022. "We are deeply saddened at the passing away of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The demise of His Holiness the Pope Emeritus is surely an irreparable loss for the entire humanity," Foreign Minister Momen wrote in the condolence book. “Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be remembered for his tireless pursuit to promote peace, development, and human rights across the world. Under his guidance, the Catholic community in Bangladesh played a noticeable role in promoting education and social services," he noted. “I am confident that Bangladesh will continue to uphold the teachings of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in maintaining religious harmony and the defence of human rights,” Momen added. The Foreign Minister offered his sincere condolences to the Catholic faithful around the world, the Holy See, and all the people whose lives were enriched by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s spiritual teachings.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed her condolences and sympathies to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sad demise of the country's former president, Jiang Zemin. In a letter she said: "We pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Our prayers and thoughts are also with the bereaved members of family, and we pray that they may be able to overcome their irreparable loss. We, in Bangladesh, stand beside the government and the friendly people of China at this time of mourning.” In the letter, as per a press release from PMO press wing, Sheikh Hasina reiterated that Bangladesh and China are time-tested development partners and enjoy friendly relations with the ‘Strategic Partnership of Cooperation’. Read: PM expresses condolences at passing of Monzur E Mawla She recalled that the friendly relations between the two countries were greatly strengthened during the tenure of former President Jiang Zemin. She expressed her confidence that bilateral relations between the two counties would continue to flourish and strengthen in the days ahead.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed her deep shock at the tragic loss of many lives in a stampede at Itaewon in Seoul during Halloween celebrations on the night of October 29, 2022. In a letter sent to South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, she on behalf of the people and the government of Bangladesh conveyed deepest condolences to him and to the bereaved families, relatives, and friends of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. “As a longstanding friend of the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh profoundly sympathises at this tragedy and stands by the people of the Republic at this difficult hour.” She prayed so that people and government of South Korea overcome this tragic loss with courage and fortitude. Read: Ted Kennedy Jr. meets PM Hasina along with his family Associated Press (AP) reported that the death toll from the stampede rose to 153 while 133 others were injured during the country’s worst disaster in years. South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Sunday that the death count could further rise as 37 of the injured people were in serious conditions.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak winning actor and screenplay writer Masum Aziz. In a condolence message, the prime minister said the talented actor will be remembered for his work. She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. Masum Aziz died on Monday afternoon at a private hospital in the capital where he was under treatment for heart-related ailment. He was admitted to the hospital with cardiac problem on October 3 and was put on life support as his condition deteriorated on Thursday morning. Read: PM condoles death of Enamul Haque His body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Tuesday morning for the public to pay tributes. His body will later be taken to his ancestral home in Pabna where he will be buried at his family graveyard. The actor was awarded the country's second highest civilian award, the Ekushey Padak, this year for his remarkable contribution in acting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak recipient eminent painter and professor of Dhaka University Fine Arts unit Samarjit Roy Chowdhury.She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, one of the most prominent Bangladeshi artists and art educators, passed away at 2:40 pm in a city hospital on Sunday.  The Ekushey Padak-winning painter (85) was suffering from multiple health issues, according to his family. Read: Eminent painter Samarjit Roy Chowdhury passes away Confirming the matter, Dhaka University fine arts faculty dean Nisar Hossain told the media that the revered artist was admitted to the hospital with heart complications and later suffered from pneumonia.According to Chowdhury’s son Surojit Roy Chowdhury, the art maestro was admitted to Labaid Hospital in the capital on September 5. After a week of treatment, the family took him home on September 12; however, he was readmitted to the hospital on September 15 due to complications.News of his departure created a shadow of grief among the artist community in the country.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep shock at the death of three peacekeepers from Bangladesh following the detonation of an explosive ordnance against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. “The Secretary-General is deeply saddened,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a statement on Wednesday.   One peacekeeper remains in critical condition. The Secretary-General expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government and the people of Bangladesh. “He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.”  The Secretary-General recalled that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. Read: UN in Bangladesh condoles tragic deaths of peacekeepers in CAR He called on the Central African authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack, so that they can be brought to justice swiftly. The Secretary-General called upon the Central African authorities to lift the restriction on night flights that negatively impacts the safety and security of peacekeepers who take considerable risks daily to support national authorities. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and government of the Central African Republic.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak recipient veteran journalist Toab Khan. In a condolence message, the premier recalled that Toab Khan, the Editor of Bengali daily ‘Dainik Bangla’, had played the role of a word hero of Swadhin Betar Kendra during the Liberation War.   She noted that the distinguished journalist served with patriotism and devotion in various fields of mass media after the independence of Bangladesh. Read: Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87 Toab Khan served as the editor of Dainik Bangla, the Chief Information Officer, the Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh and the advisory editor of the Daily Janakantha. He also served as the press secretary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “This lifelong fighter and talented journalist will be remembered for his own works,” said Hasina. The PM prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members. Toab Khan, 87, died of old age complications at the United Hospital in the city at 12:30pm.   Read: President mourns death of journalist Toab Khan Khan started his journalism career in 1953 and joined Dainik Songbad in 1955.

President Abdul Hamid on Saturday expressed deep shock at the death of Ekushey Padak recipient veteran journalist Toab Khan. In a condolence message, the President said Toab Khan was a pioneer in journalism in Bangladesh. “The void created by his death in the country's media world will never be filled.” Read: Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87 The President prayed for the departed soul of Toab Khan and expressed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family. Khan, Editor of  ‘Dainik Bangla’, died of old age complications at United Hospital in the capital on Saturday. He was 87.