45 Years Later, Ex Bangladesh Major to Face Court Martial in Ziaur Rahman Case

Bangladesh has decided to try retired Army officer Major (retd) Mozaffar Hossain under military law through a General Court Martial for his alleged role in the assassination of former President Ziaur Rahman in 1981, marking a significant development in one of the country's longest-running political and military cases. The announcement was made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed after Hossain was arrested last week and handed over to the Bangladesh Army.

Hossain was arrested from the Defence Officers Housing Society (DOHS) in Dhaka's Banani area after remaining a fugitive for 45 years. According to the minister, he had allegedly lived under a false identity in a neighbouring country for decades before being traced, though the country was not identified. Authorities said he remains in military custody, with no court martial date announced yet.

Ahmed said the accused would be tried exclusively under military law because Bangladesh's legal framework does not permit separate civil and military trials for the same offence. A General Court Martial is empowered to award capital punishment in applicable cases.

Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler turned politician and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was assassinated on May 30, 1981, during an attempted military coup at the Chattogram Circuit House. He was also the father of incumbent Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Official investigations had identified Hossain as an active participant in the coup, but he evaded arrest until this month.

The original military trial saw 13 army officers executed and five others sentenced to prison. Officials have reiterated that Hossain's prosecution will continue under the same military justice framework. No formal hearing date, tribunal composition or details of his legal representation have been disclosed so far.