Liberation War Sector Commander KM Shafiullah dies at 91

He had been battling multiple health issues, including diabetes, thyroid disorders and dementia

KM Shafiullah, a sector commander of the 1971 Liberation War and retired major general, has passed away at the age of 91 after battling health complications for years.

His personal assistant, Ziaur Rahman Moni, confirmed that he died at 8:45am on Sunday at the Combined Military Hospital, or CMH, in Dhaka.

Moni told bdnews24.com that the first funeral prayer will be held after Zuhr at Kazi Abdul Hamid High School in Narayanganj’s Rupganj, followed by the second prayer after Asr at the central mosque in Dhaka Cantonment.

Shafiullah had been battling multiple health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, fatty liver, and dementia.

In his final years, he remained confined to a stretcher.

In 1971, Shafiullah was the second-in-command of the Second East Bengal Regiment in Joydebpur.

Under his leadership, the Bengali soldiers of the regiment revolted against the Pakistani military.

At the start of the Liberation War, he was the commander of Sector 3.

Later, when three regular army brigades (referred to as forces) were formed, he led the “S” Force.

For his significant contributions during the war, Shafiullah was awarded the title “Bir Uttom”.

Born on Sept 2, 1934, in Rupganj, Shafiullah served as the army chief of Bangladesh from 1972 to 1975 after independence.

Subsequently, he represented Bangladesh as an ambassador in countries such as Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, and England.

In 1991, he returned to Bangladesh but was made an officer on special duty, or OSD, for a year before voluntarily retiring the following year.

Shafiullah joined the Awami League in 1995 and contested the 1996 general election from the Narayanganj-1 constituency, securing a seat as a Member of Parliament.

In 2007, he became a member of the presidium of the Sector Commanders Forum, which was formed to accelerate the demand for the trial of war criminals from 1971.

Later, he served as the organisation's chairman.

In 1975, as army chief, Shafiullah was in command when a group of military officers assassinated then-president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most members of his family.

Following the assassination, he expressed loyalty to the government formed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad.

However, within days, he was removed from his post as army chief.

Shafiullah later said that he, along with the then air force and navy chiefs, was “forced” to support Mostaq’s government.

Many Awami League leaders have blamed Shafiullah for failing to prevent the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In an interview, Shafiullah responded, “What can an army chief do in such a situation?”