Arrested Ex-Army Officer in Zia Assassination Case Handed Over to Military for Questioning

Retired Major Mozzafar Hossain, a fugitive suspect in the 1981 assassination case of former President Ziaur Rahman, has been handed over to the Bangladesh Army following his arrest by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB), according to officials and sources familiar with the matter.

Sources said Mozzafar is currently being questioned by military authorities at a special unit as investigators seek information related to the high-profile assassination case.

According to multiple sources, investigators are questioning the retired officer about the circumstances surrounding the killing, including the sequence of events, the individuals allegedly involved, and what happened immediately after the assassination. The sources claimed that Mozzafar has provided detailed accounts on several aspects of the incident while reportedly attempting to downplay his own role in certain instances. Officials described the information obtained so far as "highly sensitive" and said it could not be disclosed at this stage of the investigation.

The arrest has renewed public interest in the decades-old case, with many seeking answers about Mozzafar's alleged role and the legal proceedings that will follow.

Crime analysts described the arrest as a significant development in efforts to uncover the full circumstances of Ziaur Rahman's assassination. They argued that investigators should obtain all relevant information from the suspect before any legal process reaches its conclusion, including details about those who may have planned or supported the operation.

Security analyst and former adviser to the interim government, retired Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hossain, said Mozzafar had long been listed as an absconding individual under military law.

"If an absconding person is found, the law requires that he be arrested," Sakhawat said. "A joint interrogation could help determine his role in the incident and identify others who may have been involved."

Law enforcement sources said Mozzafar had remained a fugitive since Ziaur Rahman's assassination on May 30, 1981, during a military uprising in Chattogram. They alleged that he was considered a close associate of the late Major General Abul Manzoor and was listed as an absconding officer under military law, preventing disciplinary proceedings from being completed while he remained at large.

Former Inspector General of Police Abdul Qayyum said key questions about the alleged planners behind the assassination remain unanswered.

"There have long been suspicions about the possible involvement of individuals linked to the Ershad era," he said, adding that authorities should ensure the investigation is completed before any final punishment is imposed.

According to sources, a reward of Tk 200,000 had been announced by the authorities at the time for information leading to Mozzafar's capture because of his alleged involvement in the assassination.

Investigators also claimed that after the 1981 killing, Mozzafar initially went into hiding in remote areas before allegedly crossing into a neighboring country with the help of local intermediaries. The sources further alleged that he returned to Bangladesh after the Awami League came to power in 1996 and had since lived quietly without engaging in public political or social activities. These claims have not been independently verified.

Officials familiar with the matter said the government is not intervening in the legal process and expects the case to proceed in accordance with existing military law. Meanwhile, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have called for the investigation to determine who, if anyone, masterminded the assassination.

Mozzafar was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch on Wednesday night from a residence in the capital before being transferred to military custody the following day. Authorities said the investigation and interrogation remain ongoing.