Eminent jurist and Attorney General of the republic Advocate Mahbubey Alam is no more.

He was 72.

He passed away at 7:25pm yesterday while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, Sumon Mahbub, son of Advocate Mahbubey Alam, told The Daily Star last night.

Mahbubey Alam's son-in-law Reajul Hoque said they were yet to decide where the burial would take place.

The longest-serving attorney general of the country has left behind his wife, two children and a host of admirers to mourn his death.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and condolence at the demise of the attorney general.

In his condolence message, Abdul Hamid said Mahbubey Alam had shown extraordinary skills in handling different cases, including the ones filed over Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's murder.

"His death is an irreparable loss to the country," the president said.

PM Hasina in a condolence message said the nation would always remember Mahbubey Alam with gratitude for his contributions to the country's legal arena.

"As an eminent jurist, he played his role with great skills in many legal matters of national importance. He also devoted himself to his profession righteously, which will always remain as a noteworthy example for all," she said.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, deputy leader of the House and Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, Planning Minister MA Mannan, among others, expressed grief at the attorney general's death.

They prayed for the salvation and eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved family members.

Mahbubey Alam had been receiving treatment at the CMH since September 4 after being infected with Covid-19.

He was taken to the ICU on September 18 after his health condition suddenly deteriorated.

Mahbubey Alam was born in Mouchhamandra village under Louhajong upazila in Munshiganj on February 17, 1949.

He completed his honours degree in political science from Dhaka University in 1968 and obtained a master's degree in public administration from the same university in 1969.

Later, he obtained an LLB degree from Dhaka University in 1972.

Mahbubey Alam attained a certificate from Bangladesh Bar Council, the statutory body that gives licences to lawyers for practising law in courts, in 1973.

He became a member of the Dhaka Bar Association in the same year.

He got permission to practise law in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court in 1975 and he got permission to practise law in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in 1980.

Mahbubey Alam was enrolled as a senior lawyer of the Appellate Division in 1998.

He achieved a diploma degree on constitutional law and parliamentary law from the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies in New Delhi in India in 1979.

He served as the additional attorney general of the state since November 15, 1998 to October 4, 2001.

He served as an elected executive member of Bangladesh Bar Council from 2004 to 2007.

Advocate Mahbubey Alam was appointed as the attorney general of the state on January 13, 2009. At the same time, he also performed as the ex-officio chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council.

He placed arguments before the Appellate and High Court Divisions on many important cases including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination case, and the cases regarding the constitution's fifth, seventh, 13th and 16th amendments.

Besides, Mahbubey Alam had placed arguments before the apex court to ensure punishment of war criminals Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Muhhammad Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Quader Mollah, Mir Quashem Ali, Salah Uddin Quader Chowdhury, Delwar Hossain Sayedee and ATM Azharul Islam for their crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Liberation War of the country in 1971.