President Mohammed Shahabuddin today expressed his profound shock and sorrow at the death of Dilara Hafiz, wife of Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

In a condolence message, the Head of the State prayed for eternal peace of her departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

The nation will remember with gratitude the outstanding contribution of the late Dilara Hafiz in the field of country's education, the President added.

Dilara Hafiz breathed her last at 11:29am [Bangladesh time] today. She was 78 while undergoing treatment in Singapore General Hospital.

She was a former Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and a former principal of Eden Mohila College.

Earlier, she had been undergoing treatment for a long time at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. 

She was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and was on life support at the time of her death.

Speaker's wife is survived by her husband, a son, a daughter and grandchildren and a host of relatives, colleagues and well-wishers.