Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman dies of malaria in Dhaka

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman has died after contracting malaria at the age of 58. He breathed his last at 6:25am at Square Hospital in Dhaka.

Mahbubur Rahman was admitted to the facility on April 13 after his blood platelet count plummeted. Doctors later diagnosed him with malaria and his clinical condition took a sharp turn for the worse shortly after.

The Ministry of Commerce officially confirmed the news, expressing deep condolences and profound grief over the loss.

The namaz-e-janaza of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman took place in Dhaka on Friday following Jummah prayers. The funeral prayer was held at the Secretary Apartment Complex in the capital’s Eskaton area. Special prayers were offered seeking eternal peace for the departed soul. Family sources said he will be laid to rest in the Gacha area of Gazipur.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Land Ministry Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed attended the janaza. Senior government officials, business leaders, members of the public and family members were also present.

Recalling his brief professional interaction with the late secretary, the commerce minister said he worked with Mahbubur Rahman for around two months and found him sincere and efficient, with strong dedication to his duties and the country.

Born in the Mathbaria Upazila of Pirojpur district in Barishal, Mahbubur was an alumnus of the Institute of Business Administration at Dhaka University.

A veteran of the civil service, Mahbubur Rahman was an official of the 13th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Customs and Excise cadre. Throughout a career spanning several decades, he held various pivotal roles within the government bureaucracy.

His career in the civil service began in April 1994, when he joined as an assistant commissioner under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) within the Internal Resources Division of the Ministry of Finance.

From then until December 2010, he served in different capacities, including deputy commissioner, joint commissioner, and additional commissioner across several custom houses, VAT commissionerates, and the NBR.

The Ministry of Public Administration appointed him as commerce secretary on Feb 25 last year. Before taking up his final post, he had served as an additional secretary (administration wing) at the Information and Communication Technology Division.

Mahbubur Rahman is survived by his wife and three daughters. His passing is deeply mourned by his family, as well as a vast circle of colleagues and well-wishers who remember him for his professional dedication.