Lt Gen (retd) Masud, key 1/11 figure, arrested in Dhaka

Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, who was widely discussed during the 1/11 period, has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

At least two officials from the DB told The Business Standard (TBS) that the former member of parliament from Feni-3 (Sonagazi–Daganbhuiyan) was detained from his Baridhara DOHS residence late at night, with the drive led by Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam.    

However, neither Shafiqul Islam nor DMP spokesperson Md Munibur Rahman responded to TBS queries immediately.

According to law enforcement sources, Masud had an arrest warrant issued against him as an accused in a murder case, and he was arrested based on that warrant, reports Samakal.

He served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the army's 9th Division in 2007 and played a key role in the 1/11 political changeover.

Notably, after the political shift known as "1/11," Masud took on the role of coordinator for the National Coordination Committee on Combating Serious Crimes.

Although his activities were largely behind the scenes, the former army officer was widely thought to have overseen and guided joint forces operations during the state of emergency.

These operations, led by military officers, involved detaining top politicians and business figures for questioning, followed by the filing of corruption cases.

Following the resignation of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government in late 2006, political tensions intensified.

President Iajuddin Ahmed became chief adviser of the caretaker government, sparking protests by the Awami League and its allies, who also called for a boycott of the national elections.

The nationwide unrest eased on 11 January 2007, when President Iajuddin declared a state of emergency and stepped down from his role as chief adviser, leading to the cancellation of the 22 January election. This sequence of events later became known as "1/11."

Masud is regarded as one of the key military figures in enforcing the state of emergency and supporting the establishment of the military-backed caretaker government under Fakhruddin Ahmed.

As a close aide to then Army Chief Lt Gen (later Gen) Moeen U Ahmed, he played a leading role in managing the influential committee responsible for the detention of senior leaders from both the BNP and Awami League, as well as key business personalities.

He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant general.

After about a year and a half under the caretaker government, he was appointed Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Australia in June 2008.

The Awami League government, which came to power in 2009, retained him in the position until June 2011.

His tenure was later extended three times by the Awami League government.

After retiring from the position, he became involved in several businesses in Dhaka, including restaurants.

In 2018, Masud initially sought nomination from the Awami League for the Feni-3 seat in the 11th national parliamentary election but later joined the Jatiyo Party led by HM Ershad.

He was subsequently elected MP from Feni-3 (Sonagazi–Daganbhuiyan) in both the 11th and 12th national parliamentary elections.