Major Mozzafar Hossain, sentenced to death by a military court for direct involvement in the 1981 assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, was transferred from Dhaka Cantonment to Chattogram Cantonment’s military custody last Friday. He was later flown back to Dhaka by military aircraft on Sunday. Sources said the transfer was made because the original incident and case jurisdiction were centered in Chattogram, allowing investigators to review details and visit the crime scene more effectively.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police officials stated they were not informed about the transfer, as the Dhaka Detective Branch handed Mozzafar directly to the army. According to military and Home Ministry sources, his trial under the Army Act will proceed in two stages—first for desertion after the 1981 incident, and then for enforcing the previously declared death sentence. The General Court Martial will determine whether any separate judicial review is necessary.

Observers noted that military trials are not usually public, raising interest about how transparent Mozzafar’s proceedings will be. His arrest reportedly followed leads from the phone records of recently detained former Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury.