Rafia Sultana Rafi, senior joint convener of Bogura district unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a former student of Dhaka University, has died at the age of 32 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital early Wednesday.

She breathed her last at around 3:00am on April 8 in the intensive care unit, after being admitted to the hospital at about 10:00pm when she suddenly fell ill, according to family and party sources.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting doctors to shift her to the ICU, where she later died. She is survived by her husband and two daughters.

Rafi belonged to the 2012-13 academic session of the Department of Islamic History and Culture at Dhaka University. During her student life, she actively participated in various movements and political struggles.

She contested for the post of vice-president (VP) of Rokeya Hall in the 2019 student union elections and took part in the 2018 quota reform movement as well as the July 2024 uprising

In her later political career, she joined the National Citizen Party and served as the senior joint convener of its Bogura district unit. She also played a key role as a founding joint convener of the Gana Adhikar Parishad.

Her death has cast a pall of gloom over the NCP and its affiliated political circles. Party leaders at both central and district levels expressed deep shock and sorrow, prayed for the eternal peace of her soul, and extended condolences to her bereaved family.

Her Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers) is scheduled to be held after Asr on Thursday at her father’s residence in Atbaria Pirgachha under Gabtoli upazila of Bogura. A special prayer will also be held at the Bogura district NCP office after Isha seeking eternal peace for the departed soul.