Published : 01 Aug 2026, 07:13 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:29 AM
A group of former military colleagues of fugitive former army major Syed Ziaul Haque, who has been sentenced to death in three murder cases, is lobbying the government to clear him of his convictions and pending cases so he can return to normal life.
They are seeking the withdrawal of more than a dozen criminal cases filed against him through applications to government offices while holding discussions with the relevant ministries.
They have also applied to the home ministry to suspend the death sentences in the three cases in which Zia has been condemned to death.
In addition, a state-appointed lawyer has been assigned to represent him at the High Court's death reference hearings, where the capital punishment must be reviewed before becoming final.
The efforts are being led by several leaders of the Retired Armed Forces Officers' Welfare Association, better known as RAOWA, who want Zia's convictions overturned, the remaining cases withdrawn and his military service reinstated.
RAOWA Joint Secretary, retired Lt Col Abu Nawroz Khurshid Alam told bdnews24.com that the group had already met with the law minister to seek assistance.
He argued that the cases against Zia and the convictions handed down during the previous Awami League government were "politically motivated".
Who is Syed Ziaul Haque?
In January 2012, the Bangladesh Army announced that it had foiled an alleged coup attempt by a group of "religiously motivated" officers seeking to overthrow the government. Major Syed Ziaul Haque was identified as the alleged leader of the plot.
The following year, amid the Shahbagh movement demanding the highest punishment for war criminals, blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was hacked to death. His killing was followed by a series of attacks targeting writers, bloggers, publishers, and LGBT rights activists.
Law-enforcing agencies later said some of the attacks had been carried out by the banned al-Qaeda-inspired militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team, later renamed Ansar al-Islam, and alleged that Zia was leading the organisation.
Following the 2016 Holey Artisan cafe attack in Gulshan and Sholakia attacks, police announced a reward of Tk 2 million for information leading to his arrest. In 2021, the United States offered a reward of up to $5 million for his capture.
Major Zia has since been sentenced to death in the murders of writer Avijit Roy, publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, and LGBT rights activist and former USAID official Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy.
Those three death penalty cases are awaiting mandatory High Court review. As Zia remains a fugitive, he cannot file appeals himself, although a state-appointed lawyer may represent him during the proceedings. Besides those cases, at least nine other criminal cases against him remain under trial or investigation.
Why Are They Seeking His Release?
The retired officers backing Zia claim he came under surveillance after expressing opinions within the military following the 2009 BDR mutiny and later went into hiding after being implicated in what they describe as an alleged coup case in 2011.
They argue that the criminal cases against him were politically motivated and marred by irregularities during the investigation and trial.
Retired lieutenant colonel Abu Khurshid Alam said they initially approached the home ministry before being advised to take the matter to the law ministry.
He said RAOWA leaders later met with the law minister, who discussed the legal process surrounding the High Court proceedings and provided guidance on appointing a state defence counsel for the death reference hearings.
According to Khurshid, the minister also assured them that the remaining nine cases, which they consider politically motivated, would be reviewed by the Central Review Committee.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed that the delegation had met him and that he had advised them to speak to the law ministry. The law minister declined to comment when approached by bdnews24.com.
What Steps Have Been Taken?
Documents obtained by bdnews24.com reveal that applications have also been submitted, through Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M Sarwar Hossain, to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Defence Advisor retired brigadier general AKM Shamsul Islam.
The applications seek administrative intervention to withdraw what they describe as politically motivated cases and reinstate Zia in military service. Copies were also sent to the home ministry, the inspector general of police, the Attorney General's Office and the Army Headquarters.
A separate application has been submitted to the IGP, requesting the withdrawal of the Tk 2 million police reward announced for information leading to Zia's arrest. It argues that allegations linking him to extremist organisations were made with ulterior motives.
Asked about the application, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir said he was unaware of it.
Three separate applications have also been filed with the home ministry under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking suspension of the death sentences until the High Court and Appellate Division complete their review of the death references.
Advocate Md Hafizur Rahman Khan has been appointed as state defence counsel in the three death reference cases because Zia remains a fugitive.
He told bdnews24.com that he had begun collecting and reviewing the case papers and would prepare for the hearings after analysing the evidence. He noted that the High Court is currently hearing death references from 2019, meaning Zia's 2021 cases will come up in due course.
Applications have also been filed with the Political Cases Review Committee seeking withdrawal of the remaining nine cases. According to the applications, the Dhaka metropolitan public prosecutor has already recommended removing Zia's name from those cases, although they were not included in a list of 61 cases recommended by the district review committee for withdrawal.
Active Online
According to several RAOWA members, Zia is currently living abroad.
Following the meetings between RAOWA leaders and the home and law ministers, he became active on social media, posting photographs of the meetings on Facebook and thanking the organisation.
He has also appeared on several Facebook-based podcasts and a page titled "Major Ziaul Haque Mukti Parishad" has been launched in his support. A press conference has also been held in Moulvibazar demanding withdrawal of the cases against him.
What Does the Law Say?
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid said the government has the power under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to suspend the execution of a sentence.
He noted that there are precedents in which the home ministry suspended sentences to allow convicted political figures or other high-profile individuals to pursue appeals. However, he said the executive cannot overturn or withdraw a court judgment.
Another Supreme Court lawyer, Azizur Rahman Dulu, said the government may recommend withdrawal of a criminal case while it is still under trial, but once a verdict has been delivered the case itself cannot be withdrawn at the appellate stage.
He said the government could, however, suspend the execution of a sentence, citing the example of former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abul Kalam Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar, whose death sentence was suspended, allowing him to surrender and pursue legal remedies.
Asked whether the same legal route could apply to Zia, Dulu said it was possible if the government chose to suspend execution of the sentence, although such a decision would depend on the grounds relied upon by the government.
