Dhaka, Dec 04 (V7N) — DNA testing has confirmed that the body buried in a graveyard in Savar belongs to former BNP leader and political secretary to Khaleda Zia, Abul Harish Chowdhury. The High Court has now allowed his family to reinter his remains in their chosen burial ground.

The High Court bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf made the decision on Wednesday after receiving the DNA test report. Barrister Mahdin Chowdhury represented the family in the case.

Harish Chowdhury’s daughter expressed her gratitude, stating, "We will now bury my father in Kanaighat, Sylhet, as per our family’s wishes."

The matter came to light after Harish Chowdhury’s daughter, Barrister Samira Tanzin, filed a writ petition requesting the exhumation of the body for DNA testing. On September 5, 2024, the High Court ordered the test to confirm the identity of the deceased.

Harish Chowdhury, once a prominent figure in Bangladeshi politics, went missing in 2007 following the imposition of an emergency. He was later convicted in multiple corruption cases and sentenced to a total of 59 years in prison for charges including the misuse of government vehicles and illegal wealth accumulation. In 2018, he was sentenced alongside Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

In September 2021, media reports claimed Harish Chowdhury had died at the age of 68 at a Dhaka hospital. However, conflicting reports suggested he might have died in London or elsewhere.

In 2022, an investigative report by Manabzamin stated that Harish Chowdhury, living under the alias "Mahmudur Rahman," passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on September 3, 2021, and was buried at a madrasa graveyard in Savar.

The confirmation of his identity through DNA testing has provided closure to Harish Chowdhury’s family. They can now proceed with his reburial in Sylhet, ensuring his final resting place aligns with their wishes.

This decision marks the conclusion of a chapter that had remained uncertain for over three years, entangled in legal, political, and personal complexities.

END/MSS/AJ