Mozaffar tells tribunal investigators who shot Ziaur Rahman

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal questioned former army officer Major (retd) Mozaffar Hossain on Sunday after securing court permission to interrogate him over his alleged involvement in the assassination of then-president Ziaur Rahman.

He was questioned throughout the day and will be interrogated again on Monday, prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Joha told journalists.

The former army officer provided investigators with important information, including details about the killing of Ziaur Rahman.

According to prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Joha, Mozaffar told investigators during questioning that former Lt Col Matiur Rahman had shot Ziaur Rahman.

Mozaffar also said then-army chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad had travelled to Chattogram by helicopter on 28 May, two days before Ziaur Rahman was killed.

Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in the early hours of 30 May 1981 at the Chattogram Circuit House by a group of disgruntled army personnel.

According to a 16 July press release issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Detective Branch arrested Mozaffar from a house in Banani at around 10:10pm on 15 July. After questioning him and confirming his identity, the DB informed the Armed Forces Division.

He was handed over to a team of military police at Dhaka Cantonment at around 6:10pm the following day.

Later, following a petition by the prosecution over past crimes against humanity, International Crimes Tribunal-2 ordered that Mozaffar be produced before the tribunal.

After he was produced before the tribunal on 23 July, the tribunal allowed investigators to question the 77-year-old former major for two days over his alleged involvement in Ziaur Rahman's assassination.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam said that day that the tribunal had granted permission for the two-day interrogation following their application.

He said investigators would question Mozaffar at a convenient time and take further action based on the findings, adding that he would remain in military custody.

The chief prosecutor also said investigators had found Mozaffar's involvement with former army officer Masud Uddin Chowdhury in crimes against humanity.

He said the investigation agency had found preliminary information about Mozaffar's alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed across the country, as well as the 1/11 political developments, and was investigating whether he was involved in any other offences.