Ex-army chief Harun-Ar-Rashid found dead in Ctg

Lieutenant General MA Harun-Ar-Rashid, former Chief of Army Staff, was found dead in Chattogram.

His body was recovered from a guest house of the Chittagong Club Limited at 12:00 pm on Monday (August 4).

Sources said that Harun checked into room 308 on the third floor of the guest house at 4:40 pm on August 3. Later, he paid a courtesy visit to his uncle, Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul, vice-president of the Chattogram city unit of the Awami League, and Sakhawat Hossain at a house in Nondonkanan. He returned to the guest house at 10:45 pm.

On Monday morning around 10:00 am, guest house staff knocked on the door of his room but received no response. They then entered the room through the window and found him unconscious. A doctor was called in and later declared him dead.

Police said that members of Kotwali Police Station and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are currently inspecting the scene. The cause of death is yet to be determined. After completing formalities, the body will be sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy.

His nephew, journalist Arich Ahmed Shah, confirmed the death to Jago News. He said Harun had travelled to Chattogram to offer condolences to the family of the late KM Shakhawat Hossain, editor of the now-defunct daily Bangbarta, who passed away a week ago.

According to Arich, after having dinner and spending the night at the late Shakhawat’s house, Harun went to the Chittagong Club around 10:00 pm. When he did not come down for breakfast at the scheduled time on Monday morning, club staff knocked and called him, but got no response. They then opened the door using a spare key and found him dead. The police and Army Headquarters were informed, and senior army officials from the cantonment, along with CMP police, visited the scene.

Harun was awarded the Bir Pratik gallantry medal for his role in the 1971 Liberation War. He served as the Chief of Army Staff from December 2000 to June 2002.