Noted political analyst Prof Tareque Shamsur Rehman was found dead at his Uttara flat in the capital yesterday.

He was 69.

Police had to break into the flat in RAJUK Uttara Apartment Project, Sector-14, around 11:00am to recover the body of the retired professor of international relations of Jahangirnagar University.

He was alone in the flat as his wife and daughter were in the USA.

Professor Shafiq-ur-Rahman of JU confirmed the news to The Daily Star.

"I live in an apartment next  to his. As the door was locked from the inside and there was no response after repeated knocks on the door, we called the police," he said.

Mehedi Hasan, officer-in-charge of Turag Police Station, said, "The cause of his death is not known yet. There were signs of throwing up. The crime scene unit of the Criminal Investigation Department was there. They collected evidence."

An autopsy may reveal the exact cause of his death, he added.

Contacted, Fazlul Halim Rana, chairman of JU International Relations, said, "As a colleague and teacher, he was very helpful, popular and committed. I pray for his departed soul."

He added that his body was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. "We contacted his family members and policemen to look after the namaj-e-janaza."

Prof Tareque, a former member of Bangladesh University Grants Commission, researched on international politics, international relations and foreign policy in the last two decades.

He completed his graduation and post-graduate degrees in Dhaka University.

He started teaching at the Department of Government and Politics at JU as a lecturer in 1992. He moved to the Department of International Relations in 2002. He retired from JU two years ago.

His notable books include Post-Iraq War International Politics, Enemies and Friends of Democracy, Bangladesh: State and Politics, Bangladesh: 25 Years of Politics, Bangladesh: Four Decades of Politics, Ganga Water Treaty: Perspectives and Prospects, Transit Issues and Gas Export, Soviet-Bangladesh Relations, and 100 Years of World Politics.

He also wrote columns for different newspapers and was known as one of the best political analysts in the country.

JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam and UGC Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah expressed deep shock at his death.