Chittagong | August 4, 2025 —
Retired Bangladesh Army chief Lieutenant General M Harun-Ar-Rashid was found dead on Sunday morning in a room at the Chittagong Club, where he had been staying ahead of a scheduled court appearance, according to multiple media reports.
The 77-year-old former military leader had travelled to Chittagong from Dhaka on Sunday to attend a court hearing related to financial irregularities involving the Destiny Group, of which he was serving as president. His sudden death has shocked many in the military and political circles.
According to a senior official of Destiny Group, Harun failed to appear in court at the designated time and could not be reached by phone. This prompted concern, and club officials were alerted.
“Club staff entered the room and discovered him unresponsive. He had already passed away,” the official confirmed to bdnews24.com.
The body of the deceased was later transferred to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Chittagong for examination.
While no official cause of death has been released, preliminary assessments by police and family members suggest a possible brain haemorrhage, according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune.
Who Was Lt Gen (retd.) Harun-Ar-Rashid?
Lt Gen Harun served as Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 2000 to 2002, during which he played a key role in internal security operations and peacekeeping initiatives. Following his retirement from active service, he became involved in the private sector and held a leadership role in the controversial Destiny Group.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not ruled out further medical examination or autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. A detailed post-mortem report is expected from CMH in the coming days.
Police have stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play, but standard protocol will be followed given his status and the nature of the legal proceedings he was involved in.