Sirajganj district BNP's student affairs secretary Khorshed Alam Mintu said that in November 1997, upon receiving information that Mozaffar Hossain was staying at his home, BNP activists went there. However, they could not identify him as they were not sure about his face.
According to Mintu, upon reaching the spot, they asked a person for Mozaffar's home address. Later, it was learned that the person who showed them the way was Mozaffar Hossain himself. He took the opportunity to leave the scene. Later, a clash with the police also occurred.
Reception in 2019
On March 31, 2019, Mozaffar Hossain was given a reception at a program honoring distinguished personalities organized at the Shaheed M. Mansur Ali Auditorium on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Sirajganj Municipality. The program was chaired by the then Mayor Syed Abdur Rauf Mukta.
In the souvenir published on the occasion of the event, Mozaffar was introduced as a freedom fighter and retired Major. In that publication, a birthmark under his nose was also clearly visible. Later, during his arrest, the same birthmark helped confirm his identity, according to the Detective Police.
Several local senior journalists claim that after the reception program, Mozaffar also went to the local press club and spent time with journalists. According to them, although he was an accused in the Zia murder case, his public presence in Sirajganj was known to many locally.
From Liberation War to Rakkhi Bahini
Mozaffar Hossain, a resident of Sirajganj, was involved in student politics with the Chhatra League during his student life. He participated in the Liberation War and served as a commander of the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF). Later, he joined the first batch of the National Rakkhi Bahini formed in 1972 and was subsequently inducted into the army with the rank of Major.
His name is also on the government list of freedom fighters.
Clue found from Masud Uddin Chowdhury's phone
According to intelligence agencies, important information about Mozaffar's location was obtained from the forensic analysis of the mobile phone of former Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, who was arrested in a case of crimes against humanity.
During the investigation, information about regular communication with a number saved as 'John Doe' was found. Investigators later confirmed that it belonged to Mozaffar. Subsequently, after surveillance, he was arrested from a house in the Banani DOHS area of the capital last Wednesday night.
Later, he was handed over to the military authorities.
One of the fugitive accused in Zia murder case
On May 30, 1981, then-President Ziaur Rahman was killed in a military coup at the Chittagong Circuit House. Mozaffar Hossain was one of the accused in the case filed over this incident.
Various historical books and published information mention Mozaffar's presence during and after the Zia killing. After the incident, he went into hiding and remained a fugitive for more than four decades.
Recently, with his arrest, it has been possible to bring one of the long-time fugitive accused in this high-profile case under the law.
