Former President Justice Shahabuddin laid to eternal rest

PBC News:  Former President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmad has been laid to eternal rest at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka. He was buried beside his wife grave at about 12:00pm on Sunday. Justice Shahbuddin Ahmad’s body was taken to the Banani Graveyard after his second namaj-e-janaza at the National Eidgah ground at 10:30am. Supreme Court Jame Mosque Imam Abu Saleh Md Salim Ullah conducted the namaj-e-janaza.

Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, former chief justices Syed Mahmud Hossain, former acting chief justice Abdul Wahab Mia, Appellate Division and High Court Division judges, acting attorney general SM Munir, former presidents of Supreme Court Bar Association, judges, former colleagues, lawyers, political leaders, Justice Shahabuddin’s family members and people from all walks of life attended the janaza to pay their last respects.

Prior to the namaj-e-janaza, Chief Justice Hasn Foez Siddiqui and Shahabuddin Ahmed’s son Sohel Ahmed spoke. SCBA secretary Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol supervised the pre-janaza programme.

Following the janaja, people from all walks of life paid tributes to Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed by placing wreaths on his coffin.

Later, his body was taken to Banani Graveyard for burial.

All judicial functions of the Appellate and High Court Divisions were suspended for Sunday in the honour of Justice Shahabuddin.

The 92-year-old breathed his last at around 10:30am on Saturday while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka since February 23.

The first namaz-e-janaza of the former president was held on the same day at his hometown Pemoi village in Paikura union under Kendua upazila in Netrokona district.

Former CJ Shahabuddin Ahmad led the caretaker government after the fall of military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Shahabuddin was made president after Awami League came to power in 1996.

The son of a renowned social worker, he obtained a BA in Economics in 1951 and MA in International Relations in 1952 from Dhaka University.

He entered the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1954, successfully completing training at the Lahore Civil Service Academy.

He also attended a special course on Public Administration at Oxford University.

He was promoted to the post of additional deputy commissioner after serving as a magistrate and then the sub-divisional officer of Gopalganj and Natore.

He was transferred to the judicial branch in June 1960 and served as additional district and sessions judge in Dhaka and Barishal and as district and sessions judge of Cumilla and Chattogram and then appointed as the registrar of the High Court (HC) in 1967.

In 1972, he was elevated to the bench as a judge of the HC. He was appointed as an Appellate Division judge eight years later.