BNP leader Harris Chowdhury claimed to have died in UK

Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was the first person to vanish into thin air when a military-backed caretaker government took over in 2007.

On Tuesday, 11 January, his cousin Ashiq Chowdhury in a post on his Facebook page claimed that the BNP leader passed away at a UK hospital three and a half months ago and was buried there.

Harris was believed to be the mastermind behind the 21 August grenade attack.

When contacted, Ashiq said Harris Chowdhury was infected with coronavirus and later hospitalised. "He returned home (in the UK) after treatment at the hospital. Later, he fell ill again and died at a UK hospital in September."

"I was in the USA then," he told our Sylhet correspondent.

On the issue of hiding the death news for three and half months, he said nobody asked about Harris until he shared the Facebook status.

Ashiq, vice-president of Sylhet district unit BNP, in the status, attached two photos – one of his own and another of Harris – and wrote

"Boro bhai dhan, rokter badhan". Many BNP leaders commented "Innalillah…" under the post.

Meanwhile, Abul Kaher Chowdhury, former convener of Sylhet District unit of BNP, claimed Harris died in Dhaka.

"I heard the news of Harris' death two or three months ago. I knew he (Harris) died and was buried in Dhaka," he said, adding that many of the party leaders were informed about the death.

Kaher did not say any more as he believed talking on the issue was sensitive.

The Business standard contacted the National Central Bureau (known as Interpol desk) at the Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to learn what they know about Harris' death.

They, however, said they learned the death news from the media but were not officially informed.

Harris Chowdhury was the political secretary of former prime minister Khaleda Zia during the tenure of the BNP-led four-party alliance. After their departure from power, he left the country amid allegations of corruption.

He was sentenced to life in the 21 August grenade attack case on 10 October 2018.

Also in 2018, Harrish Chowdhury was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Tk10 lakh in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case on 29 October.

He was also accused in the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case.

A total of 24 Awami League leaders and activists, including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 500 others were injured in the monstrous attack on an AL rally at the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue on 21 August 2004.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader in parliament, narrowly escaped the attack with severe ear injuries.