Assassination of Ziaur Rahman

Ziaur Rahman, the president of Bangladesh, was assassinated by a faction of officers of Bangladesh Army, on 30 May 1981, in the south-eastern port city of Chittagong. Zia went to Chittagong to arbitrate in a clash between the local leaders of his political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. On the night of 30 May, a group of officers commandeered the Chittagong Circuit House, a government residence where Zia was staying, shooting dead Zia and several others.

At 4 AM, three teams of army officers attacked the Chittagong Circuit House where Ziaur Rahman was asleep. In all there were 16 army officers as soldiers refused to join. They had eleven SMGs, three Rocket Launchers and three grenade firing rifles. The important fact was all members of the attacking team were commissioned officers.

Main leaders of this attacking team were Lt.Colonel Matiur Rahman (killed trying to escape), Lt. Colonel Mahbub (killed trying to escape) and Major Khaled (escaped) Lieutenant Colonel Fazle Hossain started the attack by launching two rockets towards the circuit house which created to large hole in the building. The officers then searched room to room for Ziaur Rahman. Major Mojaffar (escaped) and Captain Moslehdudin found president first. Mosleh Uddin (caught and served life prison, was in USA as of 2010) informed Zia that they would take him to the cantonmnet. Shortly afterwards, however, Colonel Matiur Rahman arrived with another team and shot Zia from close range with a SMG.

After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on 30 May 1981, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the Chief of Army Staff, remained loyal to the government and ordered the army to suppress the coup attempt of Zia's associates led by Major General Abul Manzoor.

Government ordered the rebel force to surrender and gave them a time limit. Most soldiers including officers who took part in the mission to attack in Chittagong Circuit House did surrender and so the leading officer including GOC Manjoor were trying to escape towards Chittagong Hill Tracts. On the way they were intervened by government-sent force. Colonel Matiur Rahman and Lt Colonel Mahub (chief of 21st East Bengal, nephew of Manjoor) were shot to death by Major Mannan (a Pakistan return officer, 2IC of 12 Engineer Battalion).

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Wikipedia