Ex-army chief KM Shafiullah passes away
He breathed his last at 8:45am this morning while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka
KM Shafiullah, a decorated freedom fighter, former Bangladesh Army chief, and retired major general, has passed away at the age of 91.
His family confirmed that Shafiullah breathed his last at 8:45am this morning (26 January).
He passed away while receiving treatment at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, said his personal assistant Ziaur Rahman Moni.
Ziaur told The Business Standard that Shafiullah had been battling multiple health complications, including diabetes, hypertension, thyroid issues, fatty liver, and dementia.
The former army chief was admitted to CMH on 2 January and has been undergoing treatment in ICU and HDU, he said.
Ziaur said Shafiullah's first namaz-e-janaza will be held after the Zuhr prayers at the Kazi Abdul Hamid High School grounds in Rupganj, Naraynganj.
He added that the second janaza is scheduled for the Dhaka Cantonment Central Mosque after the Asr prayers.
Afterwards, Shafiullah will be buried in his designated grave in Dhaka.
Born on 2 September 1934 in Rupganj, Shafiullah was posted in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment at Joydebpur in 1971 and was the commander of Sector 3 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Later, he led the S-Force, earning the Bir Uttam title for his valiant contributions.
He served as the chief of army staff from 1972 to 1975 and later held ambassadorial roles in Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, and the UK.
Returning to Bangladesh in 1991, Shafiullah was placed on OSD status before he voluntarily retired in 1992.
CA mourns death of KM Shafiullah
Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of former army chief and valiant freedom fighter KM Shafiullah.
In a condolence message, Dr Yunus said Shafiullah played an important role as sector commander during the 1971 Liberation War and performed duty as second head at the Second East Bengal Regiment in Joydebpur.
"We remember with gratitude his contribution to the country and its people. People from all walks of life in Bangladesh will remember his heroic life forever with gratitude," he said.