Convicted Ex-Major Arrested After 45 Years

A retired army major convicted in the assassination case of former President Ziaur Rahman has been arrested after remaining a fugitive for nearly 45 years, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB).

The arrested individual has been identified as retired Major Md Mozzaffar Hossain, who had been convicted in the high-profile case but had managed to evade arrest for decades. His detention marks a significant development in one of Bangladesh’s most notable criminal cases.

On Thursday (16 July), Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch chief DIG Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed to the our representative. While he verified the development, no further operational details were disclosed at the time.

A DB source said the retired officer was detained on Wednesday night (15 July) from the DOHS area in Banani, Dhaka. After his arrest, he was handed over to the Bangladesh Army in accordance with the relevant procedures. Officials said he had remained in hiding for many years following his conviction in the Ziaur Rahman assassination case.

The arrest follows decades of efforts by law enforcement agencies to trace individuals who had absconded after being convicted in the case. Although several convicted persons had previously been brought under the custody of the authorities, Mozzaffar Hossain had continued to avoid arrest until the latest operation.

Former President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated on 30 May 1981 at the Chattogram Circuit House during an attempted military uprising led by a group of renegade army officers. The killing became one of the most consequential political events in Bangladesh’s history and was followed by a lengthy investigation and judicial process.

The subsequent trial resulted in convictions for a number of military officers found guilty of involvement in the assassination. Retired Major Md Mozzaffar Hossain was among those sentenced but remained a long-term fugitive after the verdict.

Officials have not disclosed where he had been living during his years in hiding or whether any additional legal proceedings will follow his arrest. Authorities said the necessary legal and administrative procedures are now being carried out after his transfer to the Bangladesh Army.

The arrest is being viewed as a major breakthrough in the long-running effort to enforce the court’s verdict in the assassination case. Law enforcement agencies said they would continue to act in accordance with the law in dealing with convicted fugitives connected to the case.