Ferdousi Shahriar Rita, an additional secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, died while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the capital on Wednesday at about 4:30pm. She was 54 and was from Sahebbari in Chitri village of West Union, Nabinganji upazila, Brahmanbaria. Her death was confirmed by her uncle Saiful Islam, a former chairman of Nabinganji West Union.

According to Saiful Islam, she suddenly fell ill three days earlier and was admitted to the hospital. As her physical condition deteriorated, she was placed on life support. She died on Wednesday afternoon during treatment.

Shahriar began her career at the foreign ministry as an assistant secretary on January 25, 1999. She held important duties at Bangladesh diplomatic missions in Bangkok, Rome, Manchester and Washington, and also served as Bangladesh’s high commissioner to Singapore. Her funeral prayer is scheduled after Zuhr prayers on Thursday in Mirpur-6, followed by burial at Mirpur 10 cemetery. Foreign affairs officials, local authorities and others expressed deep condolences.