10/10/2025
Staff Correspondent | Published: 2025-10-09 19:04:03
Tofail Ahmed, an academic who served two major reform commissions recently, has died. He was 71.
He chaired the local government commission and was a member of the electoral reforms team.
He passed away around 7:30pm on Wednesday at a hospital in Dhaka, his son-in-law Lt Col Sarwar Jahan confirmed.
He is survived by his wife, a daughter, son-in-law and a host of relatives, colleagues and well-wishers to mourn his death.
Tofail’s remains will be taken to Chattogram on Wednesday night and buried on Thursday at the family graveyard in Fatehpur village of Hathazari.
Professor Tofail Ahmed, a former professor of Public Administration at Chittagong University, had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital following a heart attack on Tuesday.
He was diagnosed with three cardiac blockages and also had a lung infection, his family sources said.
He was taken to the operation theatre for a cardiac procedure to insert a ring. However, his condition was deteriorated during surgery and he was placed on life support. Later, doctors declared him dead around 9.30pm.
A respected scholar and reformist, Tofail was a member of the Electoral Reform Commission formed by the previous interim government, and had earlier served on the Local Government Commission during the 2006-07 caretaker administration.
He efficiently played a significant role in policy formulation and decentralization efforts in Bangladesh.
On Nov 18 last year, the Muhammad Yunus-led government appointed him chairman of the new Local Government Reform Commission, a seven-member body tasked with strengthening transparency and accountability in local administration.
The commission, under his leadership, submitted its two-volume final report to Chief Advisor Yunus on Apr 20.
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