Authorities have arrested retired major Mozaffar Hossain, a fugitive accused in the assassination of former president Ziaur Rahman, and transferred him to military custody for trial by general court-martial, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said.
Ahmed said intelligence agencies led the operation that captured Mozaffar, who had lived under an assumed identity in a neighboring country while evading arrest. He said the army would try him under military law, following the process used for co-accused officers who were convicted and executed.
“A person cannot be tried separately under two laws, and cannot be tried twice for the same offense,” Ahmed told journalists.
He said Mozaffar would not face a separate civilian trial. The general court-martial will review earlier verdicts and determine findings specific to him, Ahmed said.
Ahmed made the comments during a visit to Border Guard Bangladesh headquarters in Pilkhana, where officials briefed him on training, administration and development projects.
He also said the government had increased the budget for Border Guard Bangladesh to strengthen the force and prevent illegal border crossings. Authorities have stopped infiltration attempts with help from border guards and local residents, he said.
Ahmed said barbed wire fencing is being installed along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to counter extremist groups, including the Arakan Army.