Man behind historic trials passes away
Mohammad Abdul Hannan Khan, the coordinator of the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal, died from Covid-19 yesterday.
He was 78.
The valiant freedom fighter breathed his last at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka at 12:45pm yesterday, Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the agency, told The Daily Star.
Hannan and all his family members tested positive on Thursday and he was admitted to the hospital on the same day. His condition deteriorated yesterday morning following a heart attack, Sanaul said, citing physicians.
Earlier, he took treatment at hospitals for 20 days following a mild stroke and recovered in August, an ICT official told this correspondent. "He was doing well but got infected with coronavirus," he said.
His wife, son and daughter-in-law were also infected with Covid-19 and they were now taking treatment at home.
Hannan left behind his wife, one son, one daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
His body had been kept at CMH mortuary. The first namaz-e-janaza of Hannan, who held IGP rank, will be at the Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital at 10:30am today and he would be buried in his village in Netrakona's Purbadhala.
Born in 1942, Hannan was an elected member of Dhaka University Central Student Union, and took part in different movements against the Pakistani regime and even served jail for that.
He started his career as a college teacher and participated in the Liberation War in 1971 and organised the war in Jamalpur area.
Hannan joined the police force in 1973 through the first BCS in independent Bangladesh. In his long police career, he was the chief supervising officer of the Bangabandhu Murder Case. He was also the supervising officer of jail and intellectuals killing cases.
Hannan went into retirement in 2000 as the additional deputy inspector general of Dhaka range.
After the formation of the International Crimes Tribunal in March 2010, he was appointed as the coordinator of the investigation agency at the rank of IGP in 2011.
CONDOLENCES
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of the valiant freedom fighter.
In a message of condolence, the president, with due respect, recalled the significant role of Hannan performed with utmost dedication and efficiency as the chief of the investigation wing in various historic cases of the country, reports BSS.
In her message, Hasina said he served with integrity and courage as the coordinator of the investigation agency of the ICT, reports UNB.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Chief Prosecutor of ICT Ghulam Arieff Tipoo and officials of the investigation agency, among others, expressed shock at the death of Hannan.