TDS Desk:

Colleagues, friends and well-wishers of Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser of the Interim Government A F Hassan Ariff today paid rich tribute to the memory of the late Supreme Court Lawyer here.

In their immediate reaction with BSS, they said that Adviser Hassan Ariff would be remembered forever through his works and ideals. The country had lost an eminent lawyer and an excellent human being at his death, they added.

They made the remarks following his (Ariff’s) Second Namaj-e-Janaza held at Bangladesh Supreme Court premises here this morning.

Adviser Hassan Ariff died of a cardiac arrest at the capital’s Labaid Specialized Hospital yesterday at the age of 83.

Eminent Jurist and the Constitution expert Dr Kamal Hossain expressed deep shock at the demise of his close friend and long-time colleague Hassan Ariff.

“We have lost an experienced lawyer and a good friend. His loss has created a vacuum in the Supreme Court Bar. He was one of the lawyers who worked with compassion for the country,” he added.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon told the media that none can raise a question over Ariff’s integrity as he earned respect from everyone during his long professional career.

Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-Chairman and Supreme Court Senior Advocate Zainul Abedin said, “In 2001, Begum Khaleda Zia asked me to find a good lawyer suitable for appointing as an Attorney General. Later, I introduced Hassan Ariff to her. Finally, Ariff was appointed Attorney General and served for a long time.”

He was known as a good lawyer in the legal field, Zainul said, adding that his vacuum cannot be fulfilled in the country.

Lauding the contribution of Ariff to the country, Bangladesh Bar Council Enrollment Committee Member and Senior Joint Secretary General of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum Ruhul Quddus Kajal said, “There are very few people who have served in important positions in the state during both the caretaker government and the interim government.”

Hassan Ariff was a very learned and honest man, he said, adding that as the Attorney General of Bangladesh, he played a crucial role in the field of law and justice.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said, “Ariff had many dreams for Bangladesh. He always thought for the country’s welfare and for this, he used to work from morning till night.”

There are very few such patriotic people in the country, he said, adding that with his death, the Supreme Court and the whole Bangladesh lost a guardian.

This eminent lawyer never came in front of the people for publicity and fame as he was very humble person, Tajul added.