The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested retired Major Mozzaffar Hossain, a fugitive convict in former president Ziaur Rahman's assassination case, after 45 years on the run.
DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest on Thursday afternoon.
He said retired Major Mozzaffar Hossain was detained from Banani DOHS on Wednesday night and is currently being questioned in DB custody.
On the early morning of May 30, 1981, a group of army officers attacked the Chittagong Circuit House, where then-president Ziaur Rahman was staying, and killed him.
According to investigators, Major Mozzaffar Hossain and Captain Mosleh Uddin were among those directly involved in the assassination.
Historical records and case documents say Major Mozzaffar identified Ziaur Rahman first and opened fire. After confirming the killing, he reportedly called the then-general officer commanding (GOC) of the 24th Infantry Division, Major General Abul Manzoor.
Major General Manzoor and several others were later arrested, and Manzoor was subsequently killed. Captain Mosleh Uddin was captured, tried, and sentenced to life in prison. However, Major Mozzaffar Hossain and Major SM Khaled remained fugitives.
Investigators said Major Mozzaffar hid in India for years until 1998 before allegedly returning to Bangladesh under false identities and moving between different places to avoid arrest.
