Assassination of Ziaur Rahman — the full case file

Enlisted soldiers reportedly refused to join the plot against President Ziaur Rahman — only officers carried it out. Bangladesh's sixth president, Ziaur Rahman, was shot dead on 30 May 1981 when a group of army officers attacked the Chittagong Circuit House where he was staying. A military court martial convicted eighteen officers, executing twelve of them; a thirteenth was later executed after recovering from wounds. On April 21, 1977, Ziaur Rahman assumes the presidency of Bangladesh. In September 1979, Lt. Colonel Matiur Rahman complains to a fellow officer about grievances with the government and the BNP, according to Anthony Mascarenhas's account. On May 25, 1981, Matiur Rahman learns of Zia's plan to transfer Major General Abul Manzur, and reportedly discusses a plan to assassinate Zia. On May 29, 1981, Conspirators, led by Colonel Matiur Rahman, hold a late-night meeting to organize the attack. On May 30, 1981, Ziaur Rahman is shot and killed during an armed assault on the Chittagong Circuit House. On June 1, 1981, Officers implicated in the assassination begin to be arrested (arrests continued through 3 June). On July 10, 1981, Court martial of eighteen officers begins at Chittagong Central Jail. On July 28, 1981, Court martial concludes; thirteen officers sentenced to death, five to prison terms. In December 1981, Acting President Abdus Sattar is elected in a popular vote. On March 24, 1982, Abdus Sattar is deposed in a bloodless coup led by Hussain Muhammad Ershad. In 1993, Fugitive Major S.M. Khaled reported to have died. The case is recorded as solved. This case file is kept in memory of Ziaur Rahman. The full sourced case file, with every fact cited, is at casepin dot org.

Transcript from the video’s narration track. For every source, open the case file.