M. Harun-Ar-Rashid | |
|---|---|
এম হারুন-উর-রশীদ | |
 | |
| 10th Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 24 December 2000 – 15 June 2002 | |
| President | Shahabuddin Ahmed A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina Latifur Rahman (acting) Khaleda Zia |
| Preceded by | Mustafizur Rahman |
| Succeeded by | Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1948-02-15)15 February 1948 Tangail, East Bengal, Pakistan |
| Died | 4 August 2025(2025-08-04) (aged 77) Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Awards | Bir Protik |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan (before 1971) Bangladesh |
| Branch |  Pakistan Army Bangladesh Army |
| Service years | 1970–2002 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Conflicts / operations | |
M. Harun-Ar-Rashid (15 February 1948 – 4 August 2025) was a Bangladesh Army general who served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 24 December 2000 to 16 June 2002. The Bangladesh government awarded him the title of Bir Pratik for his bravery in the war of independence.[1]
Military career
Harun-Ar-Rashid was commissioned in the infantry on 6 September 1970 from the 24 War Course of PMA. In an interview, he said that 3 out of the top 4 cadets were Bengali and that he himself was 2nd in his batch.[2] Given the choice of his unit, he chose the Engineer Corps. However, this infuriated his company commander, who wanted him to join the infantry corps and convinced him to choose the East Bengal Regiment instead. He was then commissioned to the 4th EBR in Comilla.[2]
Hailing from the infantry corps, he most notably served as commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Georgia.[3] He was known to have an academic bent of mind, having often been involved in teaching. He taught at the School of Infantry and Tactics as well as the Army Staff College.[3]
Harun-Ar-Rashid was made army chief on 24 December 2000, taking over from General Mustafizur Rahman.[4] He was the army chief when one British and two Danish surveyors were kidnapped in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by suspected militants unsatisfied with the peace deal.[5]
He served till 2002, before being succeeded by Lt. General Hasun Mashhud Chowdhury.[6]
Harun-Ar-Rashid was the first president of Army Golf Club.[7]
Post-military career
After retiring from the military, he served as ambassador to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.[6]
Harun-Ar-Rashid was the vice president of the Sector Commanders Forum.[8] In 2015 he accused Pakistan of "threatening our national security".[9] He supported increased government expenditure on defence but believed health and housing should get a higher priority.[10]
Harun-Ar-Rashid was the president of Destiny Group. He was arrested when Destiny was accused of fraud and irregularities. He was granted bail on the grounds of "health" and "social status".[11][12]
Personal life and death
Harun-Ar-Rashid was married and had two children. He was found dead in a room at the Chittagong Club on 4 August 2025, whilst on his way to attend a court hearing. Harun-Ar-Rashid was 77.[13][14]
Bibliography
"Bijoyer Pothe" is on the Bangladesh Liberation War.[15]
References
- ^ Unforgettable biography of the warriors of 1971, commemorative book (in Bengali). Bangladesh: Janata Bank Limited. 2012. p. 289. ISBN 9789843351449.
- ^ a b 'ফাইটার পাইলট' থেকে 'সেনাপ্রধান' হওয়ার গল্প | Former Army Chief | Muktomoncho | Channel 24. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Chowdhury, Rashed (25 July 2019). "Bangladesh names new army chief". Gulf News. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Bangladesh names Harun army chief". thefreelibrary.com. Kyodo News International, Inc. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Bangladesh army chief visits hostage site". BBC News. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ a b bdnews24.com. "Ex-Army chief Harun-Ar-Rashid found dead at Chittagong Club Guest House". Ex-Army chief Harun found dead at Chittagong Club. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "President". Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "DU VC wants govt to sever diplomatic ties with Pakistan". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Pakistan must return all assets looted from Bangladesh, says Health Minister Nasim". bdnews24.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Defence purchase govt's priority". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "ACC starts quizzing Destiny Group president". Priyo.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Destiny Group President Harun-Ar-Rashid's bail in two money laundering cases upheld". bdnews24.com. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Ex-army chief Harun-ar-Rashid found dead in Chittagong". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "সাবেক সেনা প্রধান হারুন অর রশিদ চট্টগ্রামে মারা গেছেন". Channel 24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "One-stop solution for Liberation War books". The Daily Star. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
External links
- M Harun-Ar-Rashid (26 February 2018). "Experience as Chief Military Observer of United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
