Mahmudul Islam passes away

Constitution expert and former attorney general Mahmudul Islam passed away at a city hospital early today.

He was 79.

He died of old-age complications at the United Hospital, Barrister Manzur-al-Matin, a junior assistant of the late lawyer told The Daily Star.

Mahmudul was suffering from lung and kidney diseases, he said.

The eminent legal expert had been at the hospital for the last two months.

He left behind his wife, two sons, relatives, colleagues, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.

His sons -- Asif Islam and Arif Islam -- are now in Canada. His body will be kept at the hospital's mortuary until they return home.

The noted lawyer will be buried at his village home in Rangpur.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam expressed deep shock at Mahmudul's death and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

He said Mahmudul served as the attorney general from 1997 to 2001. He became assistant attorney general in 1972.

Mahmudul was born in Rangpur in 1936. He passed higher secondary examinations from Rangpur Carmichael College and received a law degree from Dhaka University.

As amicus curiae, he gave opinions on constitutional issues at different times. He also wrote several books, including the Constitutional Law of Bangladesh.