Crime Desk: The truth—resembling a thriller movie—came to light during the interrogation of former Major Mozaffar Hossain, who was arrested after 45 years.
A key figure at the forefront of this entire operation—the very man who pulled the trigger on Ziaur Rahman—was none other than Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Motiur Rahman, *Bir Bikram*!
At the time, a severe rift existed between Major General Abul Manzur, the GOC of Chattogram, and the Army Headquarters in Dhaka. Amidst this tension, President Ziaur Rahman arrived at the Chattogram Circuit House. Manzur and a group of disgruntled army officers loyal to him—including Motiur Rahman—decided that this was the moment to strike; the operation had to be completed that very night.
Around 4:00 AM, three heavily armed teams set out from the Chattogram Cantonment toward the Circuit House. Colonel Motiur Rahman and Captain Sayeed themselves led the vanguard of this hit squad. Upon arrival, they immediately unleashed a barrage of gunfire and grenades.
The sound of gunfire woke President Zia from his sleep. He stepped out of his room onto the veranda, where he came face-to-face with Colonel Motiur Rahman.
After 45 years, following his arrest in July 2026, Major (Retd.) Mozaffar Hossain—a key accused in the case—revealed the actual truth to the investigating agency.
According to Mozaffar’s statement, the moment Colonel Motiur Rahman saw Zia on the veranda, he opened fire at close range with the sub-machine gun he was carrying. Ziaur Rahman was killed instantly at the scene.
Although the assassination succeeded, the plan to seize power in Dhaka failed. Army Chief H.M. Ershad took full control of the army. Realizing the situation had become untenable, Colonel Motiur and the others attempted to flee toward the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
While attempting to escape to the Hill Tracts after successfully carrying out the assassination, Motiur was killed in a gunfight with government loyalist troops on June 1, 1981.
The entire matter is currently under judicial investigation; after 45 years, the pages of this old case file are finally being opened.
