Moslemuddin

Khan was born in Narsingdi, British India on 31 July 1937.

Moslemuddin fought in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and was awarded Bir Protik, the fourth highest gallantry award for his actions during the war.{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh strips four fugitive Bangabandhu killers of gallantry awards |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-strips-four-fugitive-bangabandhu-killers-of-gallantry-awards |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}} However, Moslemuddin's award was revoked in 2021, along with the gallantry awards of the other army officers involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mujib.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Gallantry title of four killers of Bangabandhu to be revoked: Minister |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/government/gallantry-title-of-four-killers-of-bangabandhu-to-be-revoked-minister |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=Prothom Alo |date=2 June 2021 |language=en}}

Major Farook, the mastermind of the 15 August 1975 coup, assigned Moslemuddin with the task of killing Sheikh Moni, a nephew of Sheikh Mujib. When Moslemuddin arrived Sheikh Moni's house with two trucks of soldiers, Moni was woken up by the noise. When Moni came outside, Moslemuddin tried to grab hold of Moni.{{Cite book |last=Mascarenhas |first=Anthony |title=Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year=1986 |isbn=978-0340394205 |pages=75}} When Moni's pregnant wife tried to protect him, Moslemuddin opened fire with a sten gun, killing them both.

After killing Moni, Moslemuddin and his men drove to Sheikh Mujib's house, where he and Major Aziz Pasha entered with their men. By the time they entered, Sheikh Mujib had already been killed. Moslemuddin and Pasha gunned down Fazilatunnesa Mujib, Sheikh Jamal, Rosy Jamal and Sultana Kamal.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=The dark night of Bangabandhu's assassination: how it unfolded |url=https://bdnews24.com/mujib100/the-dark-night-of-bangabandhus-assassination-how-it-unfolded |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}}

After the 15 August coup, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed became the new president. In the event, that Mostaq was overthrown, Major Farook had a preorganised plan. He had formed a "hunter-killer team"{{Cite book |last=Mascarenhas |first=Anthony |title=Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year=1986 |isbn=978-0340394205 |pages=85 |quote=Assigned to the later task was one of Farook's 'hunter-killer teams'}} consisting of Moslemuddin and several other soldiers, who would go to Dhaka Central Jail and kill the four imprisoned leaders:

• Former vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam
• Former prime minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed
• Former home minister A H M Quamruzzaman
• Captain (retired) Mansur Ali

When General Khaled Mosharraf launched his counter-coup on 3 November 1975, Farook's plan was set in motion. Wearing black uniforms,{{Cite news |last=Bikram |first=Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir |date=3 November 2021 |title=Jail Killing Day: How the horrors of November 3 transpired |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/views/opinion/news/jail-killing-day-how-the-horrors-november-3-transpired-2220626 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |quote=the contingent of killers, clad in black uniforms, entered the jail}} Moslemuddin and several other soldiers drove to Dhaka Central Jail and demanded to see the four imprisoned leaders. When the DIG prisons refused to comply, Moslemuddin told him to call Major Rashid, who was at Bangabhaban. The DIG prisons called Major Rashid, who told him to do whatever Moslemuddin says.{{Cite book |last=Mascarenhas |first=Anthony |title=Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year=1986 |isbn=978-0340394205 |pages=96}} However, the DIG prisons was still unsure, so he called President Mostaq Ahmed, who verified Major Rashid's instructions.

After the phone call with Mostaq Ahmed, the DIG prisons let Moslemuddin and his men enter the prison. The four imprisoned leaders were taken to one cell and fired upon with automatic weapons. In Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood, Anthony Mascarenhas claims that three of the leaders died immediately, while Tajuddin Ahmed was still alive when Moslemuddin and his men were leaving, but slowly bled to death. However, another source states that a prison guard informed Moslemuddin that one of the leaders was still alive.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Mahbub Uddin |date=2021-11-03 |title=Jail Killing Day: How the horrors of November 3 transpired |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/views/opinion/news/jail-killing-day-how-the-horrors-november-3-transpired-2220626 |access-date=2023-03-30 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |quote=Hearing the groaning cry for help and water, one of the prison guards ran to the jail gate and informed the killers that some of the leaders were still alive.}} Upon hearing this, Moslemuddin and his men attached bayonets to their guns and bayoneted the four leaders to ensure their death.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Mahbub |date=3 November 2021 |title=Jail Killing Day: How the horrors of November 3 transpired |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/views/opinion/news/jail-killing-day-how-the-horrors-november-3-transpired-2220626 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |quote=with bayonets fitted to their weapons, entered the room, and bayoneted them all.}}

After the jail killings, Moslemuddin flew to Libya via Bangkok along with the other army officers involved in the 15 August 1975 coup.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Majed's role in Bangabandhu killing |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/475292/Majed%E2%80%99s-role-in-Bangabandhu-killing |access-date=2023-03-30 |work=Daily Sun |language= |quote=the others fled to Libya via Bangkok on orders from Zia}}

Under the government of Lt. General Ziaur Rahman, the army officers involved in the 15 August 1975 coup were given diplomatic postings as "rewards".{{Cite web |last=Karim |first=Rezaul |date=19 November 2009 |title=Rewards for slayers |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/august-15-special-coverage/rewards-slayers-1269622 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |quote=former president late Lt Gen Ziaur Rahman rewarded 12 army officials involved in the Bangabandhu killing with diplomatic jobs at Bangladesh missions abroad in 1976.}} Moslemuddin was given diplomatic postings in Tehran and Jeddah.{{Cite news |last=Karim |first=Rezaul |date=19 November 2009 |title=Rewards for slayers |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/august-15-special-coverage/rewards-slayers-1269622 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |quote=Risaldar Moslemuddin was given a posting in Tehran and Jeddah.}}

After Sheikh Hasina came to power in 1996, Moslemuddin fled Bangladesh. On 8 November 1998, a Dhaka court sentenced 15 men to death for their role in the assassination of Sheikh Mujib, including Moslemuddin,{{Cite web |date=20 November 2009 |title=Bangladesh: Appeals for commutation of death sentences |url=https://www.amnesty.org/ar/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/asa130072009en.pdf |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=Amnesty International}} who was tried in absentia. On 20 October 2004, Moslemuddin was also given the death sentence for his role in the jail killings.{{Cite news |date=21 October 2004 |title=3 Sentenced to Death for Killing Bangladeshi Leaders |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/256905 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=Arab News |language=en}}

In April 2020, the media reported that Moslemuddin had been arrested in West Bengal, following the arrest of Captain (retired) Abdul Majed.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=21 April 2020 |title=Bangabandhu killer Moslem 'held in India' |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/bangabandhu-killer-moslem-held-india-1895095 |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Moslem Uddin, another Bangabandhu killer, is arrested: Indian media |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/indian-media-reports-arrest-of-moslemuddin-another-bangabandhu-killer |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}} However, this was incorrect as the Bangladeshi government were still looking for Moslemuddin even after 2021.{{Cite news |last=Billah |first=Masum |title=No headway in catching five fugitive killers of Bangladesh's independence hero |url=https://bdnews24.com/mujib100/no-headway-in-catching-five-fugitive-killers-of-bangladeshs-independence-hero |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en |quote=The locations of Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, and Risaldar Moslemuddin still puzzle the government and law enforcers.}}

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Category:People of the 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état

Category:People convicted of murder by Bangladesh

Category:Bangladesh Army officers

Category:People sentenced to death in absentia