The High Court has ordered the burial of BNP leader Abul Harris Chowdhury with state honour as a freedom fighter, following a DNA test that confirmed his identity. Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Mobina Asaf’s HC bench issued the order on Wednesday after receiving a report related to a writ petition filed by Chowdhury’s daughter Barrister Samira Tanzin. The DNA test, conducted after exhuming his body, confirmed that the person buried under the name “Mahmudur Rahman” in the Jamia Khatamun Nabiyyin Madrasa cemetery in Savar, Dhaka, was indeed Harris Chowdhury. Harris Chowdhury: A mystery resolved through DNA confirmation Authorities are currently holding his body at the Dhaka Medical College morgue, and they will transfer it to his family graveyard in Kanaighat of Sylhet, for burial. Samira expressed her relief, highlighting the long-standing questions and doubts surrounding her father’s death. “As a child, it is deeply tragic and painful to have doubts about my father’s death. People still ask if he really died. We are being harassed. That is why we turned to the court to end this,” she said. The court issued a rule to ensure authorities would issue a death certificate in his name, withdraw the Interpol red notice against him, and arrange for his burial with the proper recognition as a ‘heroic’ freedom fighter. This case dates back to 2021 when reports revealed that Harris Chowdhury had been buried under the name ‘Mahmudur Rahman’ on September 4 of that year.

Three years ago, a man known only as ‘Mahmudur Rahman’ was quietly laid to rest in a madrasa graveyard in Savar, his identity shrouded in mystery. Today, DNA testing has brought this chapter of uncertainty to a close, unearthing a poignant tale of mistaken identity, unanswered questions, and a family's enduring quest for closure. The man has been conclusively identified as Harris Chowdhury, the former political secretary to ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a prominent BNP leader. This revelation ends years of speculation about his fate and sheds light on a story that had remained buried—both figuratively and literally. DNA Confirmation and Exhumation Following a High Court order, Harris Chowdhury’s body was exhumed from the madrasa graveyard by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). DNA samples collected from the remains were matched with those of his daughter, Barrister Samira Tanzin Chowdhury, yielding a positive match. The High Court, led by Justice Fahmida Khatun and Justice Mubina Asaf, granted permission for Harris Chowdhury’s burial at a location chosen by his family. The court further instructed that he be accorded due honours as a freedom fighter. Barrister Mahdin Chowdhury, who represented the petitioner, said that the court's decision brought long-awaited justice for the family. Read: Body exhumed in Savar to verify Harris Chowdhury’s identity Barrister Samira expressed relief, saying, “The outgoing fascist regime scripted a drama to cast doubt on my father’s death, perpetuating confusion through media reports. This uncertainty was agonising for us as a family. We turned to the court for closure, and today, justice has been served.” A Life Shrouded in Mystery Harris Chowdhury disappeared in 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government’s anti-corruption drive. He reportedly went into hiding in Sylhet, later fleeing to India and eventually settling in the United Kingdom after stints in Pakistan and Iran. In 2015, rumours suggested he had returned to Bangladesh, but no concrete evidence emerged. Even his family and close political associates were unaware of his whereabouts. Living under the alias Mahmudur Rahman, Chowdhury resided in Dhaka until his death from Covid-19 on September 3, 2021, at Evercare Hospital. Under pressure from law enforcement agencies, his death was concealed, and he was buried in Savar without a death certificate under his real name. Barrister Samira said the government of the time denied her father the honours he deserved as a freedom fighter. Read more: HC orders to exhume body of Harris Chowdhury for DNA test “Today’s court order ends the harassment and confusion surrounding my father’s death. We are grateful to the court for allowing us to re-bury him with dignity,” she remarked. As his body is finally laid to rest, the veil over his life—and death—has been lifted, ending a tale of mystery, intrigue, and resilience.

A body believed to be that of BNP leader Harris Chowdhury was exhumed from a graveyard in Savar today to confirm its identity through a DNA test. The exhumation took place at the Jamiah Khatamunnabiyyin Madrasa graveyard in Birulia, under the supervision of Executive Magistrate SM Russell Islam Noor. HC orders to exhume body of Harris Chowdhury for DNA test The process was initiated following an appeal by Harris Chowdhury's daughter, Barrister Samira Tanzin Chowdhury, who sought to resolve confusion regarding the identity of the remains. If confirmed, the body will be reburied in Sylhet. The exhumation was carried out in accordance with an order from the Dhaka District Magistrate's office, issued on October 8. Samira, along with other administrative officials, was present during the procedure. Harris Chowdhury, a prominent BNP leader and former political adviser to ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away in 2021. However, media reports suggested that he had been buried under the alias of Mahmudur Rahman, raising questions that prompted authorities to recover the body for forensic testing. In addition to Magistrate Noor, Executive Magistrate Ahmed Moeed and the Dhaka District Superintendent of Police were also present during the exhumation.