Veteran lawyer and former attorney general Barrister Rafique-ul Huq has passed away. He was 85. He took his last breath at Ad-Din Women's Medical College Hospital in Dhaka on Saturday, October 24.

He was laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard in the city at around following a third namaz-e-janaza at the Supreme Court premises.

The first namaz-e-janaza of Barrister Rafique was held at Ad-Deen Hospital. His second namaz-e-janaza was held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zuhr prayers.

He left behind his son Barrister Fahim-ul-Haque.

In the course of his career, he worked with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Khaleda Zia and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

President, PM mourn

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed profound shock and sorrow at the demise of the eminent jurist.

The president, in a condolence message, said Barrister Rafique had made huge contributions towards establishing the rule of law in the country.

"Bangladesh has lost an eminent lawyer with his death," he said.

In a message of condolence, the prime minister said: "Barrister Rafique-ul Huq used to give advice on important issues regarding the constitution."

The prime minister recalled Barrister Rafique's role with due gratitude as he came forward to fight the legal battle to get her released from jail, following her arrest in 2007 by the then caretaker government in a false case.

Born to a Muslim family in 1935, Rafique began his career as a lawyer in the Kolkata (then Calcutta) High Court in India in 1960.

In 1962, he started practising in the Dhaka High Court, before doing so at the Pakistan Supreme Court in 1965. Rafique began working as a senior advocate of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court in 1975.

Despite being a lawyer, he had deep connections with the medical profession owing to his family's links with it. Besides his father, his wife Farida Huq was also a doctor. They were married in 1960.

Barrister Rafique was also known for his involvement in various social and charitable causes. He was directly involved with more than 25 service-oriented organizations, including Ad-Din Medical College Hospital.