Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque
Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 November 1972 Mostafapur, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Service |  Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1996 - 2011 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | Corps of Infantry |
| Commands |
|
| Known for | 2011 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt |
| Awards | Sword of Honour |
Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque was a Bangladesh Army officer. He was one of the main plotters of the 2011 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt.[1]
Early life
[edit]Haque was born in the village of Mostafapur, Moulvibazar District, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.[2] He completed his schooling at Uttara Holy Child School and College and Sylhet Cadet College.[3] His father, Syed Zillul Haque, is a businessman.[2] He is a practicing Muslim. He became more fundamentalist after his wife died of cancer.[2]
Career
[edit]Haque joined the Bangladesh Army through the 41st long course of the Bangladesh Military Academy. He achieved the prestigeous Sword of Honour for his all-round performance in BMA. He studied in the Military Institute of Science and Technology. He was described as being "intelligent" and "skilled in IT".[by whom?]
He played a key role in the organization of the 2011 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt, contacting army officers in different cantonments asking them to take part in the coup.[4] He went on the run after the coup attempt failed.[4]
Haque joined Ansarullah Bangla Team and quickly rose through their ranks.[5] The leaders of Jamaat’ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team had a meeting inside the Kashimpur high security jail and agreed to work together.[6] Jamaat’ul-Mujahideen wanted Major Zia to help them with their bombmaking skills.[6]
In 2016, the government of Bangladesh announced a 4 million taka bounty on him.[7]
On 16 February 2021, Haque was sentenced to death by a court in Bangladesh for his role in the murder of Avijit Roy.[8]
In October 2024, Elias Hossain an activist and a Bangladeshi Journalist claims that the allegations are baseless, as Major Zia was abducted by DGFI in 2011. In his youtube channel he claims that Prothom Alo was responsible for representing him as a militant.
Another Ex Army officer Lt. Col Md Mustafizur Rahman claimed that Zia is alive. He was abducted by DGFI in 2011.
References
[edit]- ^ "Arrest Maj Ziaul, Ishraq". The Daily Star. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Major Zia used UK mobile SIM to talk to officers". The Daily Star. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Most wanted militant Zia's ancestral home under lock and key". Dhaka Tribune. 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Who is militant Zia?". Dhaka Tribune. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Home-grown militants and ex-major behind Bangladesh attacks, police say". Reuters. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ a b "JMB sought military skills from Maj Zia". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Tk40 lakh bounty on top 2 militants, details released". Dhaka Tribune. 2 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "'2 death-row convicts in Avijit murder case hiding abroad'". Dhaka Tribune. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.