Detectives have arrested Major (retd) Md Mozaffar Hossain, a fugitive convict in the former President Ziaur Rahman assassination case, ending over 45 years on the run.

A team of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducted a drive in the Banani area and arrested him on Wednesday night, DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam said on Thursday afternoon.

Following his arrest, detectives confirmed his identity through interrogation and immediately informed the Armed Forces Division.

After completing the required legal formalities, he was handed over to a Military Police team at Dhaka Cantonment around 6:10pm on Thursday, the DMP said.

According to the DB, Mozaffar had been living in hiding at various locations following the assassination of Ziaur Rahman by a group of misguided military personnel at the Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

Based on information from reliable sources and analysis of technological intelligence, the DB identified his whereabouts.

Subsequently, the detectives arrested him in a drive around 10:10pm on Wednesday.

Following Zia’s assassination, several people, including the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24th Infantry Division in Chattogram, Major General Abul Manzur, were arrested.

Military officers accused of involvement in the killing were tried by a court martial. Thirteen army officers were sentenced to death, while others received prison sentences of varying terms.

However, Mozaffar fled after the assassination and remained in hiding until his arrest.