Rashed Chowdhury
Rashed Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Bangladesh |
| Service | Bangladesh Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Rashed Chowdhury is a former Bangladesh Army officer who was convicted for his role in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur, the founding father and President of Bangladesh.[1][2] He is currently a fugitive residing in the United States.[3]
Career
In 1975 some dissatisfied Bangladesh Army officers planned to remove the government of Sheikh Mujib through a military coup d'état, the date they selected was 15 August 1975. On 14 August the officers including Rashed met to finalize the plan. They attacked Sheikh Mujib's house killing him along with his entire family except two of his daughters who were living abroad on the 15 August.[4] Major Rashid was part of the team that attacked the residence of Abdur Rab Serniabat and killed him.[5] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel by the regime that followed.[6]
Following an abortive coup in 17 June 1980, Rashed was sent to the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in Nigeria, where he worked till 1984.[7] Rashed was in a diplomatic posting in Tokyo when the Bangladesh Awami League came to power in 1996. He left his post and fled to the United States after the Government of Bangladesh recalled him. The government seized 1.15 acres of his land in Hajiganj Upazila, Chandpur District.[8] Bangladesh government had officially approached the United States government to deport Rashed.[7]
Trial
On 19 November 2009, Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict that had given death sentences to 12 people including Rashed.[9]
Extradition
Rashed was able to secure political asylum in the United States and Bangladesh thus has been unable to extradite him so far.[8] He is reportedly in Los Angeles.[10] He was chased out of a program of Bangladeshi expats in Sacramento, California in 2015.[11]
References
- ^ "Fighting Terrorism: Dhaka hosts international police meet March 12–14". The Daily Star. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Interpol moves to bring Rashed back". The Daily Star. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ Ziauddin, Mohammad. "Justice Delayed for Bangladesh". U.S. News & World Report (Opinion). Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Farooq's confession". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Shahriar's confession". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "6 stay out of reach". The Daily Star. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ a b "6 killers still out of reach". The Daily Star. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ a b "One killer safe in US with political asylum". The Daily Star. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Four could not even be traced". The Daily Star. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Six killers still out of reach". The Daily Star. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Expat Bangladeshis chase off Bangabandhu's killer Rashed Chowdhury from US programme". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 8 August 2017.