Justice Masud passes away

Justice Chowdhury ATM Masud, former chief election commissioner (CEC) and president of Bangladesh Heart Foundation, died of old age complications at a hospital in the capital on Friday. He was 89.
He became a judge of the Appellate Division of Supreme Court of Bangladesh on April 19, 1982, and was appointed the CEC on February 17, 1985 and relinquished the office in 1990.
He was made the deputy attorney general of the government of Bangladesh following the country's independence and held the post till June 19, 1973 when he was elevated to the bench as a judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
Born in Sylhet, ATM Masud graduated from University Law College Calcutta. While a student there, he was elected as the president of Assam provincial Muslim Student's Federation during 1945-47.
Politically conscious since his youth, he was at the forefront of the Sylhet referendum held in July 1947 to decide whether Sylhet would be a part of India or Pakistan.
His career as a lawyer began in Sylhet in 1951. After four years, he moved to the High Court of the then East Pakistan. He enrolled as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1962.
Having observed many historical episodes in his illustrious career, ATM Masud wrote about some of the defining moments in the nation's history in "Reminiscence of Few Decades and Problems of Democracy in Bangladesh".
ATM Masud was also associated with different voluntary organisations.
He is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters and three grandchildren. His elder daughter Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury is a judge of Bangladesh Supreme Court.
The Election Commission expressed deep shock at his death and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members in a statement yesterday.