The law-enforcing agencies could not find any trace of Mr. Hariss Chowdhury of Sylhet who is accused in more than one case including the horrific grenade attack on August 21. There is no such visible initiative to bring Harris Chowdhury back home for almost 10 years. Not only this, the accused in the charge sheet of the August 21 grenade attack case has been shown traceless to Harris Chowdhury. So, Harris Chowdhury is a mystery to the Sylhet people.
It is known that Harris Chowdhury is a resident of Kanaighat border area in Sylhet. His grandfather’s home is in Karimganj, India. He is the father of a son and a daughter. Harish Chowdhury, the accused in the corruption case, sentenced to 65 years imprisonment and the August 21 grenade attack case and former finance minister Shah Mohammad Kibria murder case, had been traceless for many times.
Talking to local BNP activists, it is known that in Sylhet-5 (Kanaighat-Zakiganj) constituency elections of 1979 and 1991, he lost the election as BNP candidate. After becoming the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's political secretary, he started to build the mountain of wealth. It is also known that there was close contact with the ‘Hawya Bhaban’ during the BNP government's tenure.
Some leaders responsible for Sylhet BNP said Harris Chowdhury tried to return to the country several times. But he did not return to the country fearing the case. It is known that Harris Chowdhury is in London with family but he is inactive in politics. He has links with some leaders of Sylhet. They advised not to return to the country.
Harish Chowdhury was named on the list of suspected corrupt people. In 2008, he was sentenced to 65 years in prison in more than one case. After the Awami League government came to power in 2009, many BNP leaders returned from abroad, but Harris Chowdhury did not return. Where he is, how is he - it is still unknown. His relatives in the country also do not want to give any information about this.
Meanwhile, the investigation agency found a connection with the former Finance Minister of the Awami League Shah AMS Kibria murder case and the horrific grenade attack case in Dhaka to Harrish Chowdhury. However, the name Harris Chowdhury could not found in the grenade attack case.
Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Asad Uddin told the Bangla Tribune, "Now it is the demand of time to find out where Harris Chowdhury is. He is the accused in more than one case. Nobody is above the law. Wherever he is, arrest him and make him to trial. "
In fact, 24 Awami League activists were injured in the grenade attack on the Awami League rally in Dhaka on August 21, 2004, in which 24 people, including the wife of former President late Mr. Zillur Rahman, were killed and more than 500 activists were injured. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina survived the attack luckily.