DHAKA, Aug 15, 2021 (BSS) - Former NSI director Brig general (retd) Abdur Rahim, a death row convict in the 10-truck arms haul case in Chattogram, died of COVID-19 at a city hospital today.

“Convict Abdur Rahim died early today at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, Dhaka, at the age of 68,” Jailor of Dhaka Central Mahabubul Islam told BSS.

He said Abdur Rahim was convicted in at least two high profile cases.

Earlier, Jail Super of Kashimpur-2 Jail Md Abdul Jalil told BSS that the inmate was transferred to Dhaka on July 31 after he tested positive for COVID-19 Coronavirus) at Kashimpur unit-2 in Gazipur.

Later, a hospital source said he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his health condition further deteriorated.

On April 1, 2004, a consignment of 10 trucks of arms and ammunition were seized from the CUFL jetty in Chattogram.

Two cases were filed over the incident with Karnafuli police under the Arms Act and the Special Powers Act of 1974.

In 2014, a Chattogram court handed down death penalty to 14 people, including Abdur Rahim, ex-ministers Lutfozzaman Babar, and Motiur Rahman Nizami, for smuggling 10 truckloads of arms into Chattogram during the BNP-led government's tenure in 2004.

Death reference and appeals of the case are pending with the High Court.