Chowdhury was a participant in the coup that led to the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur, the founding president of Bangladesh, in 1975.

[2] In 1975, some dissatisfied Bangladesh Army officers planned to remove the government of Sheikh Mujib through a military coup d'état, the date they selected was 15 August 1975.

They attacked Sheikh Mujib's house, killing him along with his entire family, except two of his daughters who were living abroad, on 15 August.

[7] He left his post and traveled to the United States with his wife and child on a visitor's visa after the government of Bangladesh recalled him.

[5] According to the United States asylum proceedings, the witness later recanted their statement, saying they were tortured before signing the paper they never read.