Former Chief of Army Staff and valiant freedom fighter, M Harun-ar-Rashid, Bri Protik, passed away (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi Raji’un).
He was 77.
Bangladesh Army condoled the death and paid rich tributes to their former chief.
His body was recovered from a residential room at Chattogram Club on Monday. He had stayed in the room overnight. As there was no response from him in the morning, the room was opened, and he was found unconscious.
Ashraf Uddin, chief executive officer of Chattogram Club, confirmed the matter to media.
He said that the former army chief was staying alone in a guesthouse room of the club. “When he did not come out of his room until late morning, club officials became concerned. After noon, the door was unlocked in the presence of police and law enforcement officials, and he was found unconscious,” he added.
According to him, doctors suspect that he suffered a heart attack during the night, leading to his death.
Abdul Karim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said that a medical team from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Chattogram examined him at the club and later declared him dead. “Initially, it appears to be a natural death,” he said.
Born in 1948, M Harun-ar-Rashid was a resident of Hathazari in Chattogram. He was awarded the gallantry title Bir Protik for his contribution to the Liberation War.
He was Chief of Army Staff from Dec 24, 2000 to June 15, 2002.
