Brigadier Shabab Ash-faque's unnatural end on December 8 at the Chittagong Cantonment has sparked widespread speculations in different quarters. It took the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). the military’s PR outfit, three long days Just to come out with the first official announcement acknowledging the death of such a high-ranking officer.

The ISPR Press release, on hindsight, seems meant not as an announcement but more as an admonition to the press for publishing "speculative stories."

The ISPR itself can be blamed for leaving scope for speculation. It failed to make an immediate announcement following the death of such a

senior officer on active duty, which had led the press to print stories using their own "sources’.

The ISPR categorically stated that the element of sabotage or assassination "is almost negligible", which by itself is speculative and to some extent conclusive. This is highly unprofessional of ISPR. which is the mouthpiece of the three defence services, when a Court of Inquiry is in place. The ISPR has not said what led iLto speculate or conclude to this extent. In fact, the same ISPR statement says that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the death.

The questions would automatically agitate the public mind. The tax-payers have a right to know when the body of a senior military officer is found in a pool of blood in broad day light in the heart of one of the country’s biggest cantonments. Though delayed, the Army Court of Inquiry, which has started functioning, is a welcome step.

The Court of Inquiry needs to address certain questions. These include why the body of the deceased was not sent to the Combined Military Hospital under the supervision of the Military Police or regular police even if it was beyond hope.

According to all reports, the incident occurred after 3pm on December 8. However, the body of the deceased was kept at fhe filace of the occurrence til) the oilowing day when it was taken to the Chittagong General Hospital for autopsy, which as Eress reports said was done in a urry. There are hardly any known examples when in peacetime a soldier’s body is taken for autopsy to a civil hospital whereas a military hospital is located nearby.

Normally officers of his rank are given personal side arms, known as service revolver or service pistol: which one would be inclined to use if one wanted to indulge 4n art adt of suicide. Even if he . was not copying his personag \gejpJn,

access to a personal weapon of an under-command officer was not difficult. Of all means, a sub-machine gun (SMG) was used, so was it said by the ISFR.

The place of the incident should have been sealed off after removal of the body and the weapon believed to have been used should have been confiscated. That it was not sealed at least till the following day was evident from the decision to . take the body to the civil hospital a day after the occurrence. The weapon was seized only yesterday, four days after the incident, and that too by the police team under Panchlaish thana where the UD case has been filed.

The death of Brigadier Ash-faque has something to do with the glory and valour of the Bangladesh Army. The death of such an accomplished soldier, who was adjudged the best cadet in his batch while being commissioned in 1970. cannot be seen in isolation. One also points to the fact that he was the most senior serving officer of his rank at the time of his death. It is also important to note that he was being tipped to be sent to the Bangladesh mission in Islamabad as defence attache. something the I§PR confirmed. ~

Any death by design Is omi-‘ nous. Of course, death oy suicide, is cowardice.