Bir Pratik Dr Major (retd) Akhtar Ahmed has died of cardiac arrest at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital.
The freedom fighter breathed his last around 2:30am Tuesday, his son Tanim Ahmed said.
Major Akhtar left behind his mother, wife, only son, three brothers, a sister and a wealth of well wishers.
He joined the army in 1970 and was posted to 4 East Bengal Regiment when the Liberation War broke out. He was among the first men to pick up arms against the Pakistanis in a rebellion led by Major Shafayat Jamil.
Then a captain, Akhtar Ahmed fought the war in Sector 2 and was known for his exploits well beyond the hospital premises and into enemy-held territory.
Akhtar Ahmed then founded the famous Bangladesh Hospital in Sector 2 that not only provided medical care to freedom fighters but was also a source of inspiration.
He was awarded the gallantry award Bir Pratik for his brave role during the War of Liberation.
Akhtar Ahmed worked as a physician in Libya after his self-retirement from the army in 1976. He also worked in the family planning sector under the health ministry till the early 90s when he went into business.
More recently Akhtar ahmed has been spending his retirement in Dhaka.
He has authored a book on his memories of 1971 titled "Bar Bar Firey Jai." It has also been translated into English under the title "Advance To Contact."