Prominent diplomat KM Shehab Uddin passes away

KM Shehab Uddin, one of the first diplomats who risked the lives of his wife and two children to bravely disengage from the Pakistan government and declare allegiance to the Mujibnagar government in 1971, is no more.

Breathing his last due to old-age complications in the capital's United Hospital yesterday at 5:50pm, the 78-year-old left behind his wife, four daughters and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.

A namaz-e-janaza will be held after Zohr prayers at Gulshan Azad Mosque today, says a foreign ministry press release.

Expressing deep shock, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a message, recalled the invaluable contribution of Shehab, also a member of the Awami League sub-committee on foreign affairs, to the Liberation War. She conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

Then second secretary at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, Shehab and assistant press attaché Amzadul Haque severed the ties after the Mujibnagar government's formation on April 17.

Hailing from Chittagong, Shehab earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from Dhaka University. Before joining the then Pakistan foreign service in the 1960s, he briefly taught at government colleges.

Shehab retired in 2001, having served as ambassador to the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia, France, Spain, Unesco, World Tourism Organization, Kuwait, Yemen, Poland and Hungary and as deputy high commissioner to the UK.

Becoming a secretary to the government in 1993, he participated in many international conferences and UN General Assembly sessions.