Former Army Official Masud Uddin Chowdhury Arrested

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested the high-profile former army officer Masud Uddin Chowdhury, widely known for his role during the “One-Eleven” political transition.

The arrest took place late on Monday night at his residence in the Baridhara DOHS area of the capital. The operation was conducted by the DMP’s Detective Branch (DB).

Shafiqul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the DMP (DB), confirmed the arrest to Prothom Alo on Tuesday morning. He stated that Masud Uddin Chowdhury faces five pending criminal cases, and steps will be taken to produce him in court accordingly. Details of the cases, however, were not immediately disclosed.

Military and Diplomatic Career

Masud Uddin Chowdhury served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 9th Infantry Division in 2007. He played a pivotal role during the “One-Eleven” transition, acting as coordinator for the National Coordination Committee for Combating Serious Crimes. Under this committee, anti-corruption operations were conducted, a period noted for significant national attention. He subsequently received promotion to Lieutenant General.

In 2008, Masud Uddin was appointed as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia. His tenure was extended three times under the Awami League government. Following his retirement from diplomatic service, he engaged in several business ventures in Dhaka, including restaurants and other enterprises.

Political Career

Masud Uddin later entered politics, contesting parliamentary elections as a nominee of the Jatiya Party (JaPa). He was elected twice as Member of Parliament for Feni-3 constituency (covering Sonagazi and Daganbhuiyan) in 2018 and 2024.

In the 2018 Eleventh National Parliamentary Elections, he initially sought nomination from the Awami League and submitted forms accordingly. He subsequently joined the Jatiya Party and secured a seat as part of the party’s policymaking committee, winning election under its banner.

The arrest of Masud Uddin Chowdhury marks a significant development in Bangladesh’s ongoing legal and political landscape, drawing attention due to his military, diplomatic, and political prominence. Law enforcement officials have indicated that further updates on the charges and subsequent proceedings will be provided in due course.