Dhaka, Sept 18 – Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi, the rector of Hathazari Madrasa and chief of Hefazat e Islam, breathed his last in a hospital in the capital on Friday evening, within 24 hours of resigning from his post at Hathazari in the face of student protests. He was 104. Shafi’s son Anas Madani confirmed the matter, saying his father died at the Asgar Ali Hospital in Gendaria around 6:40 pm in the evening.
Shafi was shifted from Chattogram Medical College Hospital in the afternoon as his condition deteriorated.
Earlier Shafi, also the chief of Hefajat-e-Islam, resigned from his madrasa post after a meeting of Majlis-e-Shura (policymaking body) on Thursday night, citing health grounds.
He was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and later shifted to a hospital in the capital.
Shah Ahmad Shafi was rector of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Unum Moinul Islam Hathazari, to give the institution its full name, and also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.
He was born in 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia of Chattogram and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.
Shafi commenced his career as a teacher at AL-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari madrasa in Chittagong. – UNB
