The Zia Murder Case, which dealt with the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman in an army putsch, was disposed of on Wednesday 20 years after it was filed. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M. Abdul Malek decided to accept the final report of the Investigating Officer submitted on September 12.

"There is no need to take a decision against the charge-sheeted 10 accused as they were sentenced to death by a court martial," said Malek in his decree. The Investigation Officer, in his final report, recommended dismissing the case.

President Gen. Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP, was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981. The then Assistant Commissioner of the detective branch had filed the case with Kotwali police on June 1 accusing 10 army officers, including then GOC of Chittagong Cantonment Maj. Gen. M.A. Monjur, who was killed after the short-lived coup.

The other accused were Col. Delwar Hossain, Lt. Col Fazle Hossain, Maj. Monir, Maj. Dost Mohammad, Maj. Mozaffar, Maj. Rezaul Karim, Capt. Rafiqul Hasan Khan, Capt. Ilyas and Capt. Jamil Huq. A Martial Law tribunal, accusing them of a mutiny hanged all these officers.