The body buried in 2021 under the name "Mahmudur Rahman" in Savar, Dhaka district, has been confirmed to be that of BNP leader Harris Chowdhury. A DNA test matched the remains with his family, paving the way for reburial at a cemetery of the family’s choosing.
The High Court bench, comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Mubbina Asaf, issued the order on Wednesday (4 December) following the submission of a related report.
Barrister Mahdin Chowdhury represented the petitioner during the hearing. Earlier, on 5 September, the High Court had directed a DNA test to establish the identity of the deceased, acting upon a writ petition filed by Chowdhury’s daughter, Barrister Samira Tanzin.
According to media reports from 2021, on 4 September that year, the former political secretary to ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia and BNP leader Abul Harris Chowdhury was buried in the Jalalabad area of Savar, Dhaka, at the cemetery of a madrasa under the name "Mahmudur Rahman."
Commenting on the matter, Harris Chowdhury’s daughter accused the recently ousted authoritarian government of orchestrating a "drama" to cast doubt on her father’s death.
"The media perpetuated reports that left the circumstances of my father’s death shrouded in uncertainty. As his child, it is deeply painful and distressing to see questions lingering over his demise. People still ask if he is truly dead. This has caused us immense harassment, compelling us to seek redress from the court," she remarked.
High Court’s intervention brought closure to the matter, granting the family the right to reinter their loved one.
Chowdhury was initially buried under the name Mahmudur Rahman at the Jamia Khatamun Nabiyin Cemetery, under the jurisdiction of Savar Model Police Station.
