Dhaka, July 29 -- Ferdousi Shahriar, additional secretary at the foreign ministry, has died aged 53.

She passed away on Wednesday afternoon at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Dhaka's Shyamoli, according to AKM Shahidul Karim, additional secretary (Public Diplomacy) at the ministry.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said: "Ferdousi Shahriar had been suffering from breathing difficulties and depression for some time.

"She was admitted to the hospital on Monday and breathed her last at 4:30pm."

Her husband Syed Moinul Hasan is the chief engineer of the Roads and Highways Department. The couple is survived by two daughters and a son.

An officer of the 18th batch of the Foreign Affairs cadre, Ferdousi had previously served as Bangladesh's h...