Former Major to face military trial for role in Ziaur Rahman assassination
The Minister of Home Affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan, announced that retired Major Mohammad Asaduzzaman will be tried under military law for his alleged involvement in the assassination of former President Ziaur Rahman. The Minister stated that the trial will be conducted through a General Court Martial, adhering to military regulations. Major (Retd.) Asaduzzaman, who had been absconding for 45 years under a different identity in a neighboring country, was apprehended on July 15th in Dhaka's Banani area based on intelligence reports. He was subsequently handed over to the military police at Dhaka Cantonment on July 16th. The Minister clarified that while some of his accomplices were tried in military courts previously, this specific trial will address any observations made in their previous rulings concerning Major (Retd.) Asaduzzaman. Regarding the possibility of a civil trial, the Minister indicated that legal examination would determine its feasibility later, emphasizing that a person cannot be tried twice under different laws for the same offense. The 77-year-old former officer is a key accused in the assassination case of President Ziaur Rahman.
The decision to prosecute retired Major Mohammad Asaduzzaman under military law for his alleged role in the 1970s assassination of President Ziaur Rahman highlights the enduring impact of historical political events on contemporary legal and military frameworks in Bangladesh. This approach suggests a preference for established military justice procedures, potentially to address specific aspects of the case or to align with prior proceedings involving co-accused. The Minister's comments on the legal complexities of trying an individual under both civil and military law for the same offense underscore the importance of due process and the principle of non-bis-in-idem. Future legal interpretations and the proceedings of the General Court Martial will be critical in understanding how this case navigates jurisdictional challenges and ensures a fair trial, particularly given the significant passage of time since the alleged crime.
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