Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Former chief of army staff, the commander of Sector 3 during the Liberation War, a valiant freedom fighter, retired Major General KM Shafiullah, passed away on Sunday. He was 90.
Lieutenant Colonel Sami-Ud-Dowla Chowdhury, director of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the matter.
Major General Shafiullah had been admitted to Combined Military Hospital on January 2 and breathed his last at approximately 8:45am on Sunday.
He was born on September 2, 1934, in Rupganj Upazila Narayanganj District.
Major 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.
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 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 but was unaware of the plot.
Dismissed by the Mushtaq government, he retired and was later sent abroad as an ambassador. In 1996, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Awami League.
