Ziauddin M. Choudhury was Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong at the time of President Ziaur Rahman's assassination during a failed army coup in May 1981.A member of the former Civil Service of Pakistan, Ziauddin Choudhury served the government from 1968-82, and thereafter World Bank where he continues to work. Prior to working as Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong (1978-81), Ziauddin Choudhury was Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali (1975-78), Private Secretary to Minister A.H.M. Kamruzzaman (1972-74, 1975), and Special Assistant in the Prime Minister's Secretariat (1972). Ziauddin Choudhury studied in the University of Dhaka, Punjab University (Lahore), Cornell University (NY), and American University (DC). Ziauddin Choudhury is married with two children. He lives in Maryland, USA.