ICT Official Turned Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Passes Away

Mahbubur Rahman who had served as Additional Secretary (Administration Wing) of the Information and Communication Technology Division and was most recently serving as Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, has passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un). He was 58 at the time of his death.

He died at 6:25 am on Friday, April 17 at Square Hospital in the capital. His janaza was held after Jumu’ah prayers at the Secretariat residential complex in Eskaton, Dhaka.

According to family sources, he will be buried in the Gacha area of Gazipur district.

Among those attending the janaza were Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land ASM Saleh Ahmed, along with senior officials from various ministries, business leaders, and people from different walks of life. Prayers were offered seeking forgiveness for the departed soul.

Recalling his brief working experience with the late secretary, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said, “I had the opportunity to work with the Commerce Secretary for about two months. He was a skilled and honest officer in official duties. I saw dedication and patriotism in his work.”

According to sources from the Ministry of Commerce, Mahbubur Rahman was admitted to the hospital last Monday after his blood platelet count dropped. He was later diagnosed with malaria, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Born in Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur, Mahbubur Rahman completed his education at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka.

An officer of the Customs and Excise cadre of the 13th BCS batch, he joined the National Board of Revenue as an Assistant Commissioner in April 1994. Until December 2010, he served in various Custom Houses, Customs Excise and VAT Commissionerates, and at the National Board of Revenue as Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, and Additional Commissioner. Most recently, on February 25 of last year, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification appointing him as Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. Prior to that, he served as Additional Secretary (Administration Wing) of the Information and Communication Technology Division.

DBTech/SH/EK/OR