Its father's handwriting

Freedom fighter Ayub Khan's son believes Liberation War Affairs Secretary MA Hannan's alleged insult had indeed provoked his father to take his own life since the handwriting in the four-page suicide note found beside the body was his father's.

"(Shahbagh) Police showed me the notes the day my father died," Arifur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday arriving from Chittagong to receive the body.

Ayub, 62, took poison and was found in a critical condition in a Karnaphuli Hotel room on the capital's Topkhana Road on Tuesday morning. He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11:30am.

A portion of the note reads, "I gave money to Liberation War Affairs Secretary MA Hannan for declaration of South Chittagong district unit of Muktijoddha Command Council. Even after repeated requests, he did nothing about this."

"When I went to his home to get my money back, Hannan grabbed me by the neck and pushed me out of his home. That's why I am committing suicide," it added.

Shahbagh police say they have sought Ayub's handwritings from his family since all other documents found, apart from the suicide note, were computer print-outs. Arifur said he would oblige once the funeral rites were over.

Shahbagh police say if there is a match, they would interrogate Hannan, who denies the allegations.

Police are also looking for a general diary (GD) that Ayub, as per the note, filed against Hannan. The note, however, did not mention the GD's content and the date and with which police station it was filed.

"We are contacting several police stations in Dhaka and Chittagong," said a police official preferring anonymity. The ministry is already probing the allegations.