Toufiq M Seraj, managing director of real estate company Sheltech (Pvt.) Limited, yesterday died on a Qatar-bound flight from Dhaka.

The 63-year-old engineer was heading to Spain’s Barcelona with a transit in Qatar, said Chairperson of Sheltech Kutubuddin Ahmed, who was accompanying the deceased on the flight.

“I was sleeping but woke up hearing the announcement of landing. Then I found he [Toufiq] was not in his seat,” he told The Daily Star over phone from Doha.

As Toufiq did not return in 15 minutes, Kutubuddin informed the flight attendants about the matter.

Later, the flight attendants found him unconscious at the aircraft’s lavatory and gave him emergency treatment.

After the landing of the plane, he was rushed to the doctors who declared him dead, Kutubuddin said, adding that the body was kept at a morgue in Qatar and would be bought back to Dhaka within a day or two.

Toufiq, the first president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, left behind his mother, wife and two daughters and a host of relatives, admirers and well-wishers to mourn his death.

He was the founder and managing director of Sheltech and its associated companies.

He obtained his PhD in Civic Design from University of Liverpool, UK after completing the graduation and post-graduation from Buet. He formerly held academic positions at Buet.

Toufiq was also a former president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners and Bangladesh Tennis Federation. He had a wide range of publications including several books on urban planning, housing and real estate.