Former Awami League minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar dies at 71

The eight-time MP from Dinajpur-5 constituency served as the primary and mass education minister during the Awami League regime’s 2014-19 term

Elderly Awami League leader and former minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar has died at the age of 71.

He passed away while receiving treatment at Labaid Cancer Hospital in Dhaka around 8pm on Sunday, said the hospital’s spokesperson Chowdhury Meher E Khoda.

Fizar, an eight-time MP from Dinajpur-5 constituency, had served as the primary and mass education minister during the Awami League government’s 2014-19 term. He also worked for the environment and land ministries as a state minister earlier.

An individual close to Fizar’s family said the politician had been suffering from cancer for a long time. He was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated on Sept 22. He was put on life support afterwards.

Fizar was born in Jamgram village in Dinajpur’s Phulbari Upazila on Nov 29, 1953. He took part in the country’s Liberation War under Sector-7 in 1971. He studied law after completing his bachelor's in sociology from Rajshahi University.

He had performed as the president and general secretary of Awami League’s Dinajpur unit for a long time. He was first elected to parliament from Dinajpur-5 in 1986.

The former minister was also elected MP in the 12th parliamentary election in 2024. Along with the cabinet, he had also worked for parliamentary committees.