2024-03-15 23:03:20
Advocate Ghulam Arif Tipu, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal, has passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raziun). He was 93 years old.
He died on Friday (March 15) around 8 am while undergoing treatment at the capital’s Lab Aid Hospital. Acting Prosecutor of the Tribunal, Advocate Syed Haider Ali, confirmed the matter.
International Criminal Tribunal Prosecutor (Admin) Mokhlesur Rahman Badal told the media that he died while undergoing treatment this morning. He died of old age and cold. No decision has been made yet regarding his funeral and burial.
Golam Arif Tipu was born on August 28, 1931 in Kamalakantpur village of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. His father Aftab Uddin Ahmad was the district registrar. Tipu is the second among 9 brothers and sisters.
He passed Secondary from Kaliachar School in 1948 and Higher Secondary from Rajshahi College in 1950. After completing his graduation in law from the same college, he obtained his master’s degree from Dhaka University.
From 1954 to 1956 he was the general secretary of Bangladesh Students Union. He was a lawyer, freedom fighter and language movement activist.
He served as the Chief Prosecutor (at the rank of Attorney General) of the International Crimes Tribunal established in 1971 to try organized crimes against humanity during the Great War of Independence. In 1952, the Bengali language movement was mainly organized under his leadership in Rajshahi. He served as the joint convener of the Rajshahi region of Rashtrabhasa Sangram Parishad. He was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2019 by the Government of Bangladesh for his special contribution to the language movement.