Moslemuddin Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1937-07-31)31 July 1937 (age 88) |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch | |
| Years of service | 1960–1981 |
| Rank |  Siladar |
| Unit | Armoured Corps |
| Known for | 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup Jail Killing |
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
| Awards | Bir Protik (revoked) |
MoslemuddinKhan (born 31 July 1937), also known asRafiqul Islam Khan,[1] is a junior-commissioned officer of theBangladesh Army who was convicted for his role in the15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup and the subsequentjail killings. He was sentenced to death in absentia and is currently a fugitive.
Khan was born inNarsingdi,British India on 31 July 1937.
Moslemuddin fought in theBangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and was awardedBir Protik, the fourth highest gallantry award for his actions during the war.[2] However, Moslemuddin's award was revoked in 2021, along with the gallantry awards of the other army officers involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mujib.[3]
MajorFarook, the mastermind of the 15 August 1975 coup, assigned Moslemuddin with the task of killingSheikh Moni, a nephew ofSheikh Mujib. When Moslemuddin arrived Sheikh Moni's house with two trucks of soldiers, Moni was woken up by the noise. When Moni came outside, Moslemuddin tried to grab hold of Moni.[4] When Moni's pregnant wife tried to protect him, Moslemuddin opened fire with asten gun, killing them both.[4]
After killing Moni, Moslemuddin and his men drove to Sheikh Mujib's house, where he and MajorAziz Pasha entered with their men. By the time they entered, Sheikh Mujib had already been killed. Moslemuddin and Pasha gunned downFazilatunnesa Mujib,Sheikh Jamal, Rosy Jamal andSultana Kamal.[5]
After the 15 August coup,Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed became the new president. In the event, that Mostaq was overthrown, Major Farook had a preorganised plan. He had formed a "hunter-killer team"[6] consisting of Moslemuddin and several other soldiers, who would go toDhaka Central Jail and kill the four imprisoned leaders:
When GeneralKhaled Mosharraf launched his counter-coup on3 November 1975, Farook's plan was set in motion. Wearing black uniforms,[7] Moslemuddin and several other soldiers drove to Dhaka Central Jail and demanded to see the four imprisoned leaders. When the DIG prisons refused to comply, Moslemuddin told him to call Major Rashid, who was atBangabhaban. The DIG prisons called Major Rashid, who told him to do whatever Moslemuddin says.[8] However, the DIG prisons was still unsure, so he called President Mostaq Ahmed, who verified Major Rashid's instructions.[8]
After the phone call with Mostaq Ahmed, the DIG prisons let Moslemuddin and his men enter the prison. The four imprisoned leaders were taken to one cell and fired upon with automatic weapons. InBangladesh: A Legacy of Blood,Anthony Mascarenhas claims that three of the leaders died immediately, while Tajuddin Ahmed was still alive when Moslemuddin and his men were leaving, but slowly bled to death.[8] However, another source states that a prison guard informed Moslemuddin that one of the leaders was still alive.[9] Upon hearing this, Moslemuddin and his men attachedbayonets to their guns and bayoneted the four leaders to ensure their death.[10]
After the jail killings, Moslemuddin flew toLibya viaBangkok along with the other army officers involved in the 15 August 1975 coup.[11]
Under the government of Lt. GeneralZiaur Rahman, the army officers involved in the 15 August 1975 coup were given diplomatic postings as "rewards".[12] Moslemuddin was given diplomatic postings inTehran andJeddah.[13]
AfterSheikh Hasina came to power in 1996, Moslemuddin fled Bangladesh. On 8 November 1998, a Dhaka court sentenced 15 men to death for their role in the assassination of Sheikh Mujib, including Moslemuddin,[14] who was tried in absentia. On 20 October 2004, Moslemuddin was also given the death sentence for his role in the jail killings.[15]
In April 2020, the media reported that Moslemuddin had been arrested in West Bengal, following the arrest of Captain (retired)Abdul Majed.[16][17] However, this was incorrect as the Bangladeshi government were still looking for Moslemuddin even after 2021.[18]
Assigned to the later task was one of Farook's 'hunter-killer teams'
the contingent of killers, clad in black uniforms, entered the jail
Hearing the groaning cry for help and water, one of the prison guards ran to the jail gate and informed the killers that some of the leaders were still alive.
with bayonets fitted to their weapons, entered the room, and bayoneted them all.
the others fled to Libya via Bangkok on orders from Zia
former president late Lt Gen Ziaur Rahman rewarded 12 army officials involved in the Bangabandhu killing with diplomatic jobs at Bangladesh missions abroad in 1976.
Risaldar Moslemuddin was given a posting in Tehran and Jeddah.
The locations of Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, and Risaldar Moslemuddin still puzzle the government and law enforcers.
