Body of BNP leader Harris Chowdhury exhumed for DNA testing

The body of Harris Chowdhury, a senior leader of the BNP, has been exhumed for DNA testing on the orders of the High Court. 

His body was exhumed today (16 October) from the Jamia Khatamun Graveyard in the Kamalpur area of Birulia union, Savar. This process, carried out under tight security, began around 8:30am. 

Dhaka District Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Mueed, Executive Magistrate SM Russell Islam Noor, and other officials were present during the exhumation.

According to family members, once the DNA testing is complete, Harris Chowdhury's body will be reburied with proper honours in Sylhet, as per his final wishes.

Buried under a different identity

Harris Chowdhury was buried in this graveyard three years ago, but at the time, his family identified him as "Mahmudur Rahman." Local residents, unaware of his true identity, attended the funeral. 

Maulana Ashiqur Rahman Kashemi, who led the funeral prayers, recalled, "I led the funeral prayer after Asr. Many people attended despite the pandemic. His brother-in-law contacted us and brought the body. We buried him as Professor Mahmudur Rahman, and that's the identity I knew him by."

Former union parishad member Samad Mollah confirmed that the family had purchased land in the graveyard for Mahmudur Rahman's burial, stating, "We didn't know it was Harris Chowdhury."

Harris Chowdhury's daughter, Barrister Samira Tanjim Chowdhury, expressed frustration over the situation. "They are not willing to accept that the body belongs to my father. My grandfather did not allow his burial in his hometown. We could not even get my father's death certificate," she said. 

Addressing rumours about her father's death, she added, "Many say that Harris Chowdhury is not dead but is in hiding. An honest man has been criminalised. The truth cannot be hidden."

SP Mueed said that Harris Chowdhury's burial took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the family choosing a "safe and sound" location for his burial. 

After his daughter's petition, filed on 24 September, the High Court ordered the exhumation to verify the identity of the buried individual. Representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Registrar General's Office, local police, and other officials supervised the exhumation. 

SP Mueed said, "After the examination, it will be known whether this is the body of Harris Chowdhury. The family has requested state honours due to his status as a freedom fighter, and the government will take appropriate action."

Controversy surrounding his death

On 5 September, the High Court ordered the exhumation of Harris Chowdhury's body after hearing a writ petition filed by his daughter, Samira, who requested a DNA test.

Following this order, the district administration directed Executive Magistrate SM Russell Islam Noor to oversee the process and maintain law and order.

Samira confirmed that her father passed away in a Dhaka hospital on 3 September 2021, at the age of 68, and was buried in a graveyard near Dhaka.

For some time, Harris Chowdhury's cousin, Ashiq Chowdhury, had hinted at inconsistencies regarding Harris Chowdhury's death through Facebook posts but never made direct statements. This sparked public discussion. 

Samira later clarified that her father had indeed died in Dhaka. Earlier, rumours suggested that Harris Chowdhury had died in London, but Samira explained that he had remained in Bangladesh. He had been serving as an Imam in mosques and preaching on behalf of Tabligh-Jamaat.