Final farewell to Speaker's wife Professor Dilara Hafiz held

The funeral of Professor Dilara Hafiz, wife of National Parliament Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin and renowned educationist, was held on Monday (March 30) at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, family members, relatives, and figures from political and social circles attended the ceremony.

Professor Dilara Hafiz passed away on Saturday at 11:29am while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital. Her body was brought back to Bangladesh on Sunday evening at 6:01pm aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-585.

According to family sources, she was flown to Singapore from Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on March 21 via air ambulance, placed on a ventilator, and treated under a special medical board. She was 78 years old and is survived by her husband, two sons, and a daughter.

Born on January 2, 1949, in Sunamganj, Professor Hafiz excelled in her secondary and higher secondary studies before enrolling at University of Dhaka, where she earned her Bachelor’s (Honours) and Master’s degrees in History in 1968.

She began her career as a lecturer at Government Eden Women’s College, later serving as principal at Eden Women’s College and Suhrawardy College. She also held key positions including Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board and Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

Her passing drew condolences from the Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, other parliamentary whips, Members of Parliament, and officials of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.