NN Online:
Former chief of army staff, the commander of Sector 3 during the Liberation War and a valiant freedom fighter, retired Major General KM Shafiullah, passed away on Sunday. He was 90.
His family confirmed that Shafiullah breathed his last at 8:45am on Sunday.
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.
He was born on September 2, 1934, in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj District. KM Shafiullah played a key role in the Liberation War as a commander of Sector 3, leading troops in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and parts of Comilla.
Later, when three regular army brigades (referred to as forces) were formed, he led the “S” Force. He later became the first brigade commander of the newly formed 46 Brigade and was appointed chief of army staff on April 5, 1972.
Promoted to major general in 1973, he served as army chief during the assassination of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and most of his family members in 1975 but was unaware of the plot.
Shafiullah later said in several media interviews that he, along with the then air force and navy chiefs, had been “forced” to support Mushtaq’s government.
Many Awami League leaders have blamed Shafiullah for failing to prevent the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, however, in an interview with the daily Prothom Alo, Shafiullah said: “What can an army chief do in such a situation?”
After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shafiullah was dismissed as the army chief by the Mushtaq government and was later sent abroad as an ambassador.
He represented Bangladesh in several countries, including Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, and England. For his significant contributions during the war, Shafiullah was awarded the title “Bir Uttom.” In 1991, when he returned to Bangladesh, he was made OSD. He later voluntarily resigned from his position and entered politics.
He joined the Awami League in 1995 and contested the 1996 general election from the Narayanganj-1 constituency, becoming elected as a member of parliament.
In 2007, he became a member of the Presidium of the Sector Commanders Forum, an organization established to intensify the demand for the trial of war criminals from 1971.
Later, he served as the organization’s chairman.
CA mourns death of ex-army chief 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 important role as sector commander during 1971 Liberation War and performed duty as second head at the Second East Bengal Regiment in Joydebpur.
He led the “S” Force and earned the “Bir Uttam” title for his role during the Liberation War, the chief adviser recalled.
“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.
Dr Yunus prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
