HT Imam, the lifelong bureaucrat-turned-advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, breathed his last in the early hours of Thursday at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. He was 82.
Imam had been suffering kidney-related complications and was admitted to CMH some two weeks ago. His condition, however, started deteriorating on Tuesday, according to Awami League sources.
He was pronounced dead at around 1:15am on Thursday, said Biplab Barua, office secretary of the Awami League, in a Facebook post.
Decisions on his funeral prayers and burial will be taken later, Barua added.
Imam served as the cabinet secretary in the Mujibnagar government, and then also in the post-independence government of Bangladesh.
During his long and distinguished career in the bureaucracy, he also served as secretary in the Ministry of Communications, as well as to the Planning Division.
He was seen as a key figure in the revival and subsequently unbroken run in power enjoyed by the Awami League since victory in the December, 2008 general elections.
Imam served as an adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina throughout this period. First, from 2009-2014 as an adviser on public administration affairs, and then from 2014 on political affairs.
He also took on roles within the Awami League, chairing or co-chairing committees on publicity affairs and elections, and becoming a member of the AL advisory council.
President and PM mourn
President M Abdul Hamid expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of HT Imam.
In a condolence message, the President said the role of HT Imam was very important in the Great Liberation War.
“He (Imam) has worked all his life to develop the spirit of the country’s independence and the Great War of Liberation. Besides, he played a leading role in running the government in the newly independent country,” he mentioned.
The head of the state said HT Imam as a government official also made important contribution to conducting the elections of Bangladesh Awami League in the national elections.
“At the death of HT Imam, Bangladesh Awami League lost a dedicated leader,” the President observed.
Shortly after the news broke, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of her Political Advisor and advisory council member of Awami League HT Imam.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
