Quick Facts
Biography
Rashed Chowdhury was a Bangladesh Army officer who was convicted for his role in the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur, the founding father and President of Bangladesh. He is currently a fugitive residing in the United States.
Career
In 1975 some dissatisfied Bangladesh Army officers planned to removed the Government of Sheikh Mujib through a military, the date they selected was 15 August 1975. On 14 August the officers including Rashed met to finalize the plans. They attacked Sheikh Mujibs house killing him and mist of his family on the 15 August. Major Rashid was part of the team that attacked the residence of Abdur Rab Serniabat and killed him. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the regime that followed.
Following an abortive coup in 17 June 1980, Rashed was sent to the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in Nigeria, where he worked till 1984. Rashed was in a diplomatic posting in Tokyo when Bangladesh Awami League came to power in 1996. He left his post and fled to the United States after the Government of Bangladesh recalled him. The government seized 1.15 acres of his land in Hajiganj Upazila, Chandpur District. Bangladesh government had officially approached the United States government to deport Rashed.
Trial
On 19 November 2009, Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict that had given death sentences to 12 people including Rashed.
Extradition
Rashed was able to secure political asylum in the United States and Bangladesh thus has been unable to extradite him so far. He is reportedly in Los Angeles. He was chased out of a program of Bangladeshi expats in Sacramento, California in 2015.