Dhaka, 24 March (H.S.):

Bangladesh police arrested retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury a former military officer and ex-MP from Feni-3 early Tuesday morning in the Baridhara neighborhood. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch carried out the predawn raid at his home in the Baridhara DOHS compound. Masud emerged as a key figure during the military-backed caretaker government that followed the nationwide emergency declared on January 11 2007.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police DB chief Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest to journalists adding that Chowdhury faces at least four serious cases including a murder warrant corruption and illegally amassed wealth. The Daily Star reported Islam's statement noting the operation's precision amid heightened security around the capital.

During the 2007 crisis Chowdhury served as General Officer Commanding of the 9th Infantry Division in Savar playing a pivotal role in the political transition known as the 1/11 period.

Promoted to lieutenant general on June 2 2008 he took command at the National Defence College before a swift posting to the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra just six days later on June 8. Chowdhury later entered politics with the Jatiya Party. Recently the CID filed a money laundering case against him alleging diversion of around 100 crore taka roughly 8.5 million USD through shady Malaysian labor market deals.

Authorities have yet to disclose full details of the charges but sources indicate probes into his tenure during the emergency era alongside financial irregularities. Chowdhury's detention marks another high-profile scalp in Bangladesh's widening anti-corruption dragnet targeting retired generals and politicians from that turbulent chapter.

Police plan to produce him in court soon as investigations intensify.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar