Former Islamic Foundation DG, scholar Syed Ashraf Ali dies

Former director general of the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Syed Ashraf Ali, a renowned scholar on Islam, has passed away. He was 77.

He breathed his last at around 6am on Tuesday at Eden Multicare Centre in Dhaka while under treatment.

 

Ali was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago with lungs complications. He was in a coma for the past two days.

 

Son of the late Syed Badrudduja, former mayor of Kolkata and member of India’s Lok Sabha, and Rakia Badrudduja, Ali was born in 1939.

 

After receiving education at Kolkata’s St. Xaviers College and the University of Calcutta, he moved to the then East Pakistan in 1964 and had joined Radio Pakistan.

 

In the early phases of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, Ali played a major role in setting up the Shwadhin Bangla Biplobi Betar Kendra in Chittagong.

 

Syed Ashraf Ali has authored a number of books and treatises on Islam. He has also hosted regular programmes on Islam on television, particularly in state-run Bangladesh Television and private TV station ATN Bangla.

 

His also wrote numerous articles in newspapers on a wide range of subjects, including religion and music.

 

Ali’s Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers on Tuesday at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

 

Later, he will be buried at the Intellectuals Graveyard at the capital’s Mirpur.

 

Ali has left behind his wife Sultana Ali and son Syed Mohammad Ali Zain.