Bangladesh Arrests Fugitive Suspect in Ex-President's Murder

Bangladesh police apprehended a retired military officer on July 16, accusing him of involvement in the assassination of former president Ziaur Rahman over four decades ago. The suspect, Md Mozaffar Hossain, had been a fugitive since the 1981 event, during which Rahman, a war hero and president, was killed amid a military coup.

Following the assassination, a martial law court convicted 18 military officers. The defense claimed they did not receive a fair trial, and thirteen of the convicted officers were subsequently executed by hanging. Hossain, identified as one of the alleged assassins, went into hiding immediately after the incident. Authorities had offered a reward of US$2,000 for information leading to his arrest.

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Md Mozaffar Hossain had remained a fugitive since 1981 after president Ziaur Rahman was assassinated. We detained him today.

Md Shafiqul Islam, chief of the police's Detective Branch, confirmed Hossain's detention, stating, "Md Mozaffar Hossain had remained a fugitive since 1981 after president Ziaur Rahman was assassinated. We detained him today." Islam added that Hossain provided details of his role in the assassination during interrogation. The arrest occurred shortly after Hossain landed in Dhaka, having reportedly lived abroad since the coup attempt.

Ziaur Rahman became president in 1977, succeeding Bangladesh's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. His tenure was marked by numerous coup attempts. The precise circumstances surrounding Ziaur Rahman's assassination, which took place while he was visiting Chattogram to mediate a dispute within his political party, remain unclear.

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During interrogation, he explained his role in the assassination to us.