Khaleda’s ex-political secretary Harris died in London, says family
The Aug 21 grenade attack convict died about three months ago, according to his cousin
Harris Chowdhury Bangla Tribune
Md Serajul Islam, Sylhet
Publish : 12 Jan 2022, 04:31 PMUpdate : 12 Jan 2022, 06:09 PM
BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, who was sentenced to life in prison in the August 21 grenade attack case, died in London about three months ago, according to his family.
Also a former joint secretary general of the party, Harris died from post-Covid-19 complications at a hospital in the United Kingdom in September last year, his cousin Ashik Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
The former BNP leader, who used to live with his family in the British capital, was buried in the same city, said Ashik, a member of Sylhet BNP convening committee.
Ashik first made the news of Harris’ death public through a Facebook post on Tuesday. Asked about the delay, he said was in the US at the time and had been unaware until recently.
“Harris tested positive for Covid-19 mid-August. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital and also tested Covid-19 negative. However, his lungs were badly damaged and he died towards the end of September,” said Ashik.
The late BNP leader had already been suffering from various illnesses, including blood cancer, said his family.
Harris was political affairs adviser to the then prime minister Khaleda Zia during the 2001-2006 regime of the BNP-led Four-party alliance. The once influential BNP leader fled Bangladesh after his party’s term ended in 2006.
He was tried and convicted in absentia for corruption during 2007-08.
In October 2018, a court found Harris and 37 others guilty in the August 21 grenade attack case. He was sentenced to life in prison.
He is a charge-sheeted accused in the case filed over the murder of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.
Khaleda’s ex-political secretary Harris died in London, says family
The Aug 21 grenade attack convict died about three months ago, according to his cousin
BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, who was sentenced to life in prison in the August 21 grenade attack case, died in London about three months ago, according to his family.
Also a former joint secretary general of the party, Harris died from post-Covid-19 complications at a hospital in the United Kingdom in September last year, his cousin Ashik Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
The former BNP leader, who used to live with his family in the British capital, was buried in the same city, said Ashik, a member of Sylhet BNP convening committee.
Ashik first made the news of Harris’ death public through a Facebook post on Tuesday. Asked about the delay, he said was in the US at the time and had been unaware until recently.
“Harris tested positive for Covid-19 mid-August. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital and also tested Covid-19 negative. However, his lungs were badly damaged and he died towards the end of September,” said Ashik.
The late BNP leader had already been suffering from various illnesses, including blood cancer, said his family.
Harris was political affairs adviser to the then prime minister Khaleda Zia during the 2001-2006 regime of the BNP-led Four-party alliance. The once influential BNP leader fled Bangladesh after his party’s term ended in 2006.
He was tried and convicted in absentia for corruption during 2007-08.
In October 2018, a court found Harris and 37 others guilty in the August 21 grenade attack case. He was sentenced to life in prison.
He is a charge-sheeted accused in the case filed over the murder of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.
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