{{about||the Bangladeshi industrialist and politician|Abu Taher (banker)|the English journalist|Abul Taher|the Buyid ruler of Hamadan|Shams al-Daula}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=February 2015}}
{{POV|date=February 2015}}
}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Abu Taher
| image = Abu Taher.jpg
| imagesize = 100px
| caption = Abu Taher
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|11|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], [[Assam]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1976|7|21|1938|11|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh
| nationality = [[Bangladesh]]i [[File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg|20px]]
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater = [[Murari Chand College]]
| profession = [[Military officer]]
| party = [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]]
| allegiance = {{flag|Bangladesh}} {{flag|Pakistan}} (before 1971)
| branch = {{army|Pakistan}} {{nowrap| [[File:Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg|23px|Bangladesh Army seal]] [[Bangladesh Army]]}}
| serviceyears = 1962–1971 (Pakistan) 1971-1972(Bangladesh)
| rank =  [[Colonel]]
| awards = [[Bir Uttom]]<ref name="Two epoch-making verdicts"/><ref name=bpedia/>
}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

'''Abu Taher ''' ({{lang-bn|আবু তাহের}}) (14 November 1938–21 July 1976) was a [[Bangladeshi]] [[military service|military serviceman]], decorated [[war hero|war veteran]], political activist and leader of the radical left wing [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]].<ref name="Two epoch-making verdicts">{{cite web|last1=Habib|first1=Haroon|title=Two epoch-making verdicts|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/two-epochmaking-verdicts/article623525.ece|website=thehindu.com|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

He was responsible for a radical and violent [[uprising]] that brought death to innocent service men and women of the army and air forces of Bangladesh, He severely disrupted discipline in the services by spreading false propaganda in leaflets to overthrow the sitting army chief and grab power. Taher was found guilty of [[high treason]] and [[murder]] and executed.<ref name=":1" /> In 2011, under Awami League government rule the [[Bangladeshi|Bangladesh]]

high court declared the execution illegal albeit a political one.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
==Early life and education==
Abu Taher was born in [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], Assam Province of [[British India]] on 14 November 1938.<ref name="TWO GIANTS">{{cite news |title=Two Giants |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/two-giants/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=14 November 2013 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> He is from Kazla village in [[Purbadhala Upazila|Purbadhala]] in [[Netrokona District]] of [[Bangladesh]] which is his ancestral home. After completion of higher secondary school from [[Murari Chand College]] in [[Sylhet]], Taher joined the [[Pakistani Army|Pakistan Army]] in September 1960 as an officer candidate.<ref name="bpedia"/>

==Military career==
Taher received his Commission in 1962 as a second lieutenant in the [[Pakistan Army]]. He was trained in the the Pakistan [[Special Services Group]] (Commando Force) in 1965.<ref name="TWO GIANTS"/> Following his training, he participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] in the Sialkot sector of [[Kashmir]]. For his part, he received a war participation medal Sitara-e-harb from the Pakistan Army. After the war, Taher took a pre qualification course on [[guerrilla warfare]] at [[Fort Benning]] in the United States in 1969. He was posted to the [[Quetta]] Staff College, [[Pakistan]] in 1970.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite book |last=Hossain |first=Md Anwar |year=2012 |chapter=Taher, Colonel Abu |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Taher,_Colonel_Abu |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

===Bangladesh Liberation War===
{{also|Bangladesh Liberation War}}Towards the end of August 1971 Taher, along with three other Bengali officers: Maj. [[Abul Manzoor]], Capt. Dalim and Capt. Ziauddin defected from the [[Pakistani Army|Pakistan Army]] and crossed over the border near [[Abbottabad]], [[West Pakistan]], into India.<ref name="bpedia" /> After two weeks under Indian intelligence screening and debriefing at Dejradun, he was sent to [[Bangladeshi Armed Forces|Bangladesh Armed Forces]] (BDF) HQ at 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta. From there Captain Taher was posted to Sector 11 under Sector Commander Major Ziaur Rahman. Major Zia appointed Captain Taher as Sub-Sector Commander No. 2 at Mahendraganj.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taher execution an outright murder: HC |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/col-taher-execution-an-absolute-killing-hc/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=20 May 2013 |accessdate=20 June 2015}}</ref> Sector 11 was located across the [[Rangpur District|Rangpur by Buriganga]] river. End of September Taher was promoted to Major.

On October 10th, Lt. Col Ziaur Rahman was abruptly ordered to move to Sylhet. Zia placed Taher as interim commander. On 2 November 1971, Taher lost his leg from a mine blast during a debriefing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71 |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/kamalpur-phulbari-tasted-freedom-on-this-day-in-71-53244 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=8 March 2015 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> Squadron Leader [[M. Hamidullah Khan]] was officially appointed Sector Commander of Sector 11 under direct orders through [[Emergency Action Message|EAM]] from Colonel Osmani, from Bangladesh Provincial Government Headquarters at 8 Theatre Rd, Calcutta. Taher was flown to [[Pune]], India. On 21 November Taher received a Medical Board Release. His leg was later amputated there, where he remained until February 1972. Taher including his 3 brothers all were rewarded titles by A.K. Khandekar. For his participation, he was awarded [[Bir Uttom]].

==Post- war activities==
Following his return, Taher was reinstated into the [[Bangladesh Army]] in April due to the severe shortage of personnel, as many remained stranded in Pakistan, where most were interned as prisoners of war. He however was compassionately promoted to Lieutenant Colonel per army rules upon retirement in June 1972 he went on LPR(leave per retirement).<ref name="bpedia" />
===Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal===
Due to his left-leaning radical ideas of disorganising, he resigned from the army to form the [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]],<ref name="history1">{{cite web
| url = http://www.jsdbd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3
| title = History of Jatiya Samajtantric Dal
| publisher = Dhaka Informatix
| accessdate = 2 December 2009
}}</ref> with intentions of causing disruption and chaos.

The [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] had split from the [[Bangladesh Chhatra League]], the student wing of the [[Bangladesh Awami League]] and called for establishing [[socialism|radical socialism]] through an armed revolution. Taher became the head of its armed wing, the [[Gonobahini]], and led a violent insurgency campaign against the government of [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hossain|first1=Kazi Mobarak|title=Hasanul Haq Inu’s JaSoD splits as he names Shirin general secretary|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/03/12/hasanul-haq-inus-jasod-splits-as-he-names-shirin-general-secretary|accessdate=11 July 2016|agency=Dhaka Tribune|issue=2|publisher=Dhaka Tribune|date=13 March 2016}}</ref>Abu Taher's actions were to create mass violence and chaos until his goals were to be achieved.

===7th November coup===
Abu Taher welcomed the [[assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] on 15 August 1975, remarking <blockquote>They've made a big mistake. They shouldn't have allowed Sheikh Mujib's burial. Now a shrine will be built there. His body should have been thrown into the [[Bay of Bengal]].</blockquote><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Who Said What After August 1 5|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/who-said-what-after-august-15-37449 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=17 August 2014 |accessdate=16 July 2016}}</ref>

Taher quickly took advantage of the chaos following the assassination, exacerbating dissent among ranking [[non-commissioned officer]]s and regular soldiers.<ref name=history1 /> Taher incited and organized an uprising of the soldiers on 7 November 1975. Together with [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] leader [[Hasanul Haq Inu]], men loyal to JSD, tried to takeover Bangladesh Radio and also to assassinate [[Ziaur Rahman]] in the guise of breaking him out from house arrest, in order to takeover of power.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chowdhury |first=Afsan |date=8 November 2010 |title=What really happened in 1975? |url=http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2010/11/08/what-really-happened-in-1975/ |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=11 July 2016}}</ref>

Some revenge killings took place of a high number of military officers, senior nco's and their wives. Some took place due to incidents dating back to injustices that occurred during the independence war in 1971.<ref name=":4">{{cite book|title=Famous Assassinations in World History: An Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO, LLC|isbn=9781610692861|location=United States of America|page=455|last1=Newton|first1=Michael}}</ref> Acts of clear treason and serious breach of military discipline and morale from an external threat followed.<ref name=":1" /> As chief of Staff, Major General [[Ziaur Rahman]], worked to bring down the acts of treason and mutiny, and tried to calm Taher.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Ahsan |first=Syed Badrul |date=7 July 2015 |title=Bourgeois dreams of socialist revolution |url=http://www.observerbd.com/2015/07/07/98425.php |newspaper=The Daily Observer |accessdate=16 July 2016}}</ref> Zia did not fail to understand that Taher was acting on behalf of an external threat.

==Trial and execution==
Once [[Ziaur Rahman]] retook charge of the [[Bangladesh Army|army]], he realized that the disorder set off by Taher and his JSD had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored.<ref name=":1" /> On 24 November 1975 Zia ordered Taher be arrested on charges of [[high treason]] and [[murder]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Hossain |first=Kazi Mobarak |date=13 March 2016 |title=Hasanul Haq Inu's JaSoD splits as he names Shirin general secretary |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/03/12/hasanul-haq-inus-jasod-splits-as-he-names-shirin-general-secretary |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=11 July 2016}}</ref> Taher was tried by a military tribunal inside the [[Dhaka Central Jail]] and sentenced to death on 17 July 1976. He was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976.<ref name="The Daily Star">{{cite news |last=Manik |first=Julfikar Ali |date=25 August 2010 |title=5th amendment verdict paves way for justice |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=152188 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]]|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> The trial was later considered flawed by political factions.<ref name="The Daily Star"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Katsiaficas |first=George |date=2013 |title=Asia's unknown uprisings |location=Oakland, Calif. |publisher=PM |page=270 |isbn=978-1-60486-488-5}}</ref>

==High Court ruling==
On 22 March 2011 the politically inclined High Court overturned the previous judgement that authorised Taher's execution by a military tribunal while the nation was under martial law. The military court judgement was declared illegal.<ref name=":3">[http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=190563&hb=2 "HC declares Taher trial illegal"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930084753/http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=190563&hb=2 |date=30 September 2011 }} bdnews24.com</ref> The court observed Taher's execution had happened according to [[Ziaur Rahman|Major General Zia]]'s plan.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Niloy |first=Suliman |title='Zia staged trial to kill Col Taher' |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/05/20/zia-staged-trial-to-kill-col-taher |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> According to Zia and many officers in the services at that time, Taher caused willful harm to Bangladesh due pure self paranoia against the national spirit of Bangladesh and the Independene struggle. The establishment and society wanted justice on Taher's constant rabid actions since Independene.

==See also==
* [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
* [[Mukti Bahini]]]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.col-taher.org Website commemorating Col. Taher]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taher, Abu}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi military personnel]]
[[Category:Executed activists]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Mukti Bahini]]
[[Category:People from Netrokona District]]
[[Category:People executed for treason against Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Executed Bangladeshi people]]
[[Category:20th-century executions for treason]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Uttom]]
[[Category:People executed by Bangladesh by hanging]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Army officers]]

Benutzer:Shi Annan/Abu Taher

2017-04-03T21:18:17Z

124.6.235.132: Updated

{{about||the Bangladeshi industrialist and politician|Abu Taher (banker)|the English journalist|Abul Taher|the Buyid ruler of Hamadan|Shams al-Daula}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=February 2015}}
{{POV|date=February 2015}}
}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Abu Taher
| image = Abu Taher.jpg
| imagesize = 100px
| caption = Abu Taher
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|11|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], [[Assam]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1976|7|21|1938|11|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh
| nationality = [[Bangladesh]]i [[File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg|20px]]
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater = [[Murari Chand College]] [[Institute of Social Welfare and Research]], [[University of Dhaka]]
| profession = [[Military officer]]
| party = [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]]
| allegiance = {{flag|Bangladesh}} {{flag|Pakistan}} (before 1971)
| branch = {{army|Pakistan}} {{nowrap| [[File:Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg|23px|Bangladesh Army seal]] [[Bangladesh Army]]}}
| serviceyears = 1962–1971 (Pakistan) 1971-1972(Bangladesh)
| rank =  [[Colonel]]
| awards = [[Bir Uttom]]<ref name="Two epoch-making verdicts"/><ref name=bpedia/>
}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

'''Abu Taher ''' ({{lang-bn|আবু তাহের}}) (14 November 1938–21 July 1976) was a [[Bangladeshi]] [[military service|military serviceman]], decorated [[war hero]], political activist and leader of the left wing [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]].<ref name="Two epoch-making verdicts">{{cite web|last1=Habib|first1=Haroon|title=Two epoch-making verdicts|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/two-epochmaking-verdicts/article623525.ece|website=thehindu.com|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

He was responsible for a radical and violent [[uprising]] that brought death to innocent service men and women of the army and air forces of Bangladesh. After efforts from soldiers of 2nd artillery which freed army chief major general [[Ziaur Rahman]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Staff Correspondent|title=Zia revived Razakars: Inu|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/07/20/zia-revived-razakars-inu|website=bdnews24.com|publisher=bdnews24.com|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite book|last1=Newton|first1=Michael|title=Famous Assassinations in World History: An Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO, LLC|location=United States of America|isbn=9781610692861|page=455}}</ref>, Taher was found [[high treason]] and [[murder]] and executed.<ref name=":1" /> In 2011, a [[Bangladeshi|Bangladesh highi]] court declared the execution illegal.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
==Early life and education==
Abu Taher was born in [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], Assam Province of [[British India]] on 14 November 1938.<ref name="TWO GIANTS">{{cite news |title=Two Giants |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/two-giants/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=14 November 2013 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> He is from Kazla village in [[Purbadhala Upazila|Purbadhala]] in [[Netrokona District]] of [[Bangladesh]] which is his ancestral home. After completion of higher secondary school from [[Murari Chand College]] in [[Sylhet]], Taher joined the [[Pakistani Army]] in September 1960 as an officer candidate.<ref name="bpedia"/>

==Military career==
Taher received his Commission in 1962 as a second lieutenant in the [[Pakistan Army]]. He joined the elite Pakistan [[Special Services Group]] (Commando Force) in 1965.<ref name="TWO GIANTS"/> Following his training, he participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] in the Sialkot sector of [[Kashmir]]. For his part, he received a war participation medal from the Pakistan Army. After the war, Taher took officers pre qualification course on [[guerrilla warfare]] at [[Fort Benning]] in the United States in 1969. He was posted to the [[Quetta]] Staff College, [[Pakistan]] in 1970.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite book |last=Hossain |first=Md Anwar |year=2012 |chapter=Taher, Colonel Abu |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Taher,_Colonel_Abu |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

===Bangladesh Liberation War===
{{also|Bangladesh Liberation War}}Towards the end of August 1971 Taher, along with three other Bengali officers: Maj. [[Abul Manzoor]], Capt. Dalim and Capt. Ziauddin defected from the [[Pakistani Army]] and crossed over the border near [[Abbottabad]], [[West Pakistan]], into India.<ref name="bpedia" /> After two weeks under Indian intelligence screening and debriefing, he was sent to [[Bangladeshi Armed Forces]] (BDF) HQ at 8 Theatre Road. He was promoted to Major and posted to Sector 11. Major Zia apoointed Taher as Sub-Sector Commander No. 2 at Mahendraganj.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taher execution an outright murder: HC |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/col-taher-execution-an-absolute-killing-hc/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=20 May 2013 |accessdate=20 June 2015}}</ref> Sector 11 was located across the [[Rangpur District]], which comprised [[Mymensingh District]], [[Tangail District]] and parts of the [[Rangpur District]]. 2 November 1971, Taher lost his leg from a mine blast during a debriefing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71 |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/kamalpur-phulbari-tasted-freedom-on-this-day-in-71-53244 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=8 March 2015 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> Squadron Leader [[M. Hamidullah Khan]] was officially appointed Sector Commander of Sector 11 under direct orders through [[Emergency Action Message|EAM]] from Colonel Osmani,BaInterim ngladesh Provincial Government Headquarters. at 8 Theatre Rd, CalcuttaTaher was flown to [[Pune]], India. On 21 November Taher received a Medical Board Release. His leg was later amputated there, where he remained until February 1972. For his valour, he was awarded [[Bir Uttom]].

==Post- war activities==
Following his return, Taher was reinstated into the [[Bangladesh Army]] in April due to the severe shortage of personnel, as many remained stranded in Pakistan, where most were interned as prisoners of war. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed as the "Adjutant General" of Bangladesh Army. In June 1972 he went on LPR(leave per retirement).<ref name="bpedia" />
===Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal===
Due to his left-leaning communist ideas of organizing the [[Bangladesh Army]] along the lines of the [[People's Liberation Army]], he resigned from the army to form the [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]],<ref name="history1">{{cite web
| url = http://www.jsdbd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3
| title = History of Jatiya Samajtantric Dal
| publisher = Dhaka Informatix
| accessdate = 2 December 2009
}}</ref> with

The [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] had split from the [[Bangladesh Chhatra League]], the student wing of the [[Bangladesh Awami League]] and called for establishing [[socialism]] through an armed revolution. Taher became the head of its armed wing, the [[Gonobahini]] led a violent insurgency campaign against the government of [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hossain|first1=Kazi Mobarak|title=Hasanul Haq Inu’s JaSoD splits as he names Shirin general secretary|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/03/12/hasanul-haq-inus-jasod-splits-as-he-names-shirin-general-secretary|accessdate=11 July 2016|agency=Dhaka Tribune|issue=2|publisher=Dhaka Tribune|date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

===7th November coup===
Abu Taher welcomed the [[assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] on 15 August 1975, remarking <blockquote>They've made a big mistake. They shouldn't have allowed Sheikh Mujib's burial. Now a shrine will be built there. His body should have been thrown into the [[Bay of Bengal]].</blockquote><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Who Said What After August 1 5|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/who-said-what-after-august-15-37449 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=17 August 2014 |accessdate=16 July 2016}}</ref>

Taher quickly took advantage of the chaos following the assassination, exacerbating dissent among ranking [[non-commissioned officer]]s and regular soldiers.<ref name=history1 /> Taher incited and organized an uprising of the soldiers on 7 November 1975. Together with [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] leader [[Hasanul Haq Inu]], soldiers loyal tried to takeover Bangladesh Radio and also to remove [[Ziaur Rahman]] from house arrest, in order to facilitate a [[Marxist]] takeover of power.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chowdhury |first=Afsan |date=8 November 2010 |title=What really happened in 1975? |url=http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2010/11/08/what-really-happened-in-1975/ |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=11 July 2016}}</ref>

Some revenge killings took place of a number of military officers and their wives due to incidents dating back to injustices that occurred during the independence war in 1971.<ref name=":4" /> Acts of treason and clear serious breach of military discipline and morale followed.<ref name=":1" /> As chief of Staff, Major General [[Ziaur Rahman]], worked to bring down the acts of treason and mutiny, after his release.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Ahsan |first=Syed Badrul |date=7 July 2015 |title=Bourgeois dreams of socialist revolution |url=http://www.observerbd.com/2015/07/07/98425.php |newspaper=The Daily Observer |accessdate=16 July 2016}}</ref>

==Trial and execution==
Once [[Ziaur Rahman]] retook charge of the [[Bangladesh Army|army]], he realized that the disorder set off by the soldiers' mutiny on the inspiration of Taher had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored.<ref name=":1" /> On 24 November 1975 ordered Taher be arrested on charges of [[high treason]] and [[murder]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Hossain |first=Kazi Mobarak |date=13 March 2016 |title=Hasanul Haq Inu's JaSoD splits as he names Shirin general secretary |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/03/12/hasanul-haq-inus-jasod-splits-as-he-names-shirin-general-secretary |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=11 July 2016}}</ref> Taher was tried by a military tribunal inside the [[Dhaka Central Jail]] and sentenced to death on 17 July 1976. He was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976.<ref name="The Daily Star">{{cite news |last=Manik |first=Julfikar Ali |date=25 August 2010 |title=5th amendment verdict paves way for justice |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=152188 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]]|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> The trial was later considered flawed.<ref name="The Daily Star"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Katsiaficas |first=George |date=2013 |title=Asia's unknown uprisings |location=Oakland, Calif. |publisher=PM |page=270 |isbn=978-1-60486-488-5}}</ref>

==High Court ruling==
On 22 March 2011 the politically inclined High Court overturned the previous judgement that authorised Taher's execution by a military tribunal while the nation was under martial law. The military court judgement was declared illegal.<ref name=":3">[http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=190563&hb=2 "HC declares Taher trial illegal"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930084753/http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=190563&hb=2 |date=30 September 2011 }} bdnews24.com</ref> The court observed Taher's execution had happened according to [[Ziaur Rahman|Major General Zia]]'s plan.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Niloy |first=Suliman |title='Zia staged trial to kill Col Taher' |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/05/20/zia-staged-trial-to-kill-col-taher |newspaper=bdnews24.com |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
* [[Mukti Bahini]]]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.col-taher.org Website commemorating Col. Taher]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taher, Abu}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi military personnel]]
[[Category:Executed activists]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Mukti Bahini]]
[[Category:People from Netrokona District]]
[[Category:People executed for treason against Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Executed Bangladeshi people]]
[[Category:20th-century executions for treason]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Uttom]]
[[Category:People executed by Bangladesh by hanging]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Army officers]]