# Murder of Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury

Murder of Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury refers to Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury, a businessman, who was murdered after being kidnapped in Chittagong in 2003. His skeleton was recovered two years after the kidnapping. The Daily Star described it as sensational. Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and former member of parliament of Chittagong-12, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, was accused of diverting the investigation to protect his brother who was an accused in the case.

## Background

Chittagong District saw a significant deterioration in law and order in 2003. Another businessman, Rezaur Rahman Zakir, was kidnapped and murdered in Chittagong. Banshkhali carnage took place in which seven members of a Hindu family were burned alive. On Eid-ul Fitr two activists of Awami League are killed inside a madrassah in Hathazari Upazila. The murder of Gopal Krishna Muhuri, Hindu college principal took place. Shafiuddin Ahmed, a Bangladesh Jatyatabadi Sramik Dal leader, was murdered. Two college girls were murdered.

### Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury

Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury was a businessman and politician of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He was married to Nazma Akhter Khanam (sometimes referred to as Nazma Akhter Chowdhury) and they had three sons, Chowdhury Forman Reza, Chowdhury Arfan Reza, and Chowdhury Forkan Reza.

## Incident

On 24 July 2003, Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury was traveling from his office in Chawkbazar to his home in Chandgaon residential area when he was kidnapped. His kidnappers demanded a 10 million BDT ransom. Bangladesh Police suspected he was killed after 60 days of the kidnapping. According to one of the accused, he was held in Fatikchhari. Accused Shahid Chairman would later claim he was killed by strangulation and that it was done on the orders of Maruf Nizam who promised them 10 million BDT for the murder.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party government made three top police officers officers on special duty as punishment for their failure in the Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury case. They were Shahidullah Khan, Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Chittagong Division of police, Naim Ahmed, and Motiur Rahman, Superintendent of Police of Chittagong District. The government transferred and/or punished 200 police officers.
Farid Ahmad Chowdhury, former president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed frustration over the failure to locate Jamaluddin. In August 2003, Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Rifles were deployed alongside the police to search for him. The vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, SM Nurul Hoque, expressed disappointment with the lack of results. Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Minister of Home Affairs, said that Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury would be rescued soon as they had specific information about his location. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahudul Haque visited Chittagong to increase the speed of the investigation. Government also deployed intelligence agents.
Rapid Action Battalion recovered his body from Satkainda Tilla on 24 August 2005 after being led to the spot by Kala Mahbub, a suspect in the murder. It was recovered from the property of an accused Abul Kashem Chowdhury, chairman of Kanchan Nagar Union Parishad.

## Reaction
### Investigation

On 12 December 2003, Amar Das, a suspect in the kidnapping was killed in police custody six hours after being detained. His body had signs of torture.
On 15 August 2005, Rapid Action Battalion arrested Anwara union parishad chairman Shahid, the main accused in the kidnapping and murder, from Patenga beach. He would later confess that Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury was killed on 24 July 2003. He stated the killers were Kala (black) Mahboob, Lamba (tall) Mahboob, and Babu. He said business partners of Maruf Nizam, Helal and Shahjahan, were involved. Maruf Nizam is the brother of Sarwar Jamal Nizam, a member of parliament of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He also alleged Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, member of parliament of Awami League, was involved along with his sons, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and Zia.
Chowdhury's eldest son, Chowdhury Forman Reza Liton, and wife, Nazma Akhtar, met with the Minister of Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. Chowdhury Forman Reza Liton was critical of chairman Shahid's statements. He said Shahid had admitted Sarwar Jamal Nizam and his brother Maruf Nizam was involved which Babar denied. Babar said Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu was involved but Liton believed it was a diversion tactic as they have no problems with Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu. After the meeting officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs tried to prevent prevent the family from talking to the media. His family talked with Harris Chowdhury seeking justice.
The Criminal Investigation Department pressed charges against 16 on 20 July 2006. Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury's son, Chowdhury Farman Reza, filed a narazi (non-acceptance) petition against the charge sheet as it did not include the alleged mastermind Maruf Nizam and Sarwar Jamal Nizam. The High Court Division issued a stay order against the narazi petition.
In June 2007, Nazma Akter Chowdhury welcomed the arrest of Sarwar Jamal Nizam by Rapid Action Battalion. She had accused the former Minister of Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar of taking bribes to protect the accused. The family of Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury wanted to file a corruption case against Lutfozzaman Babar, Maruf Nizam, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, and Shahjahan Omar.
Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police arrested suspect Sultan Driver in March 2011 from Cox's Bazar. In January 2023, Md Abul Kashem Chowdhury, was sent to jail after he asked for bail from the Fifth Additional Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge's Court.

## Legacy

In November 2003, Abu Sayed, director of Shanta Group, was kidnapped and the police advised his family to pay the one million BDT ransom to avoid the fate of Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury.
In 2008, the Jamal Uddin Smriti Parishad campaigned against Sarwar Jamal Nizam who received nomination for the parliamentary elections from Bangladesh Nationalist Party for Chittagong-12. They called him a killer a protest at the Chittagong Press Club.