Harun-Ar-Rashid

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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

He served till 2002, before being succeeded by Lt. General Hasun Mashhud Chowdhury.

Harun-Ar-Rashid was the first president of Army Golf Club.

Post-military career After retiring from the military, he served as ambassador to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. In 2015 he accused Pakistan of "threatening our national security". He supported increased government expenditure on defence but believed health and housing should get a higher priority.

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".

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.