Families of the victims of the February 25-26, 2009 rebellion in the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles on Wednesday urged not to release death row and life term convicts in murder case without applying law properly.
They alleged that they had been facing threats since they raised their demand for not releasing the murder case accused on January 29.
鈥極ur main concern is that imprisoned and death row convicts in the murder case would not be released without applying law properly,鈥� said slain Colonel Quadrat Elahi Rahman Shafique鈥檚 son, Saquib Rahman at a press conference held at the Retired Armed Forces Officers鈥� Welfare Association in the capital Dhaka.
Saquib said that there were three trial processes and one of those was summary trail by the battalion captain, adding that their maximum punishment was seven years and all were released completing their seven years of jail term and those released BDR members were protesting with members of the Students Against Discrimination demanding reinstatement of their jobs.
He said that the court released some prisoners from jail in a case filed under the Explosive Substance Act and the victim families had nothing to say about this as it is a judicial matter.
He said that another one was the murder case.
On January 23, a total of 178 former BDR members were released from different jails on bail in an explosive case linked to the 2009 BDR mutiny.
At the press conference, the victim families also launched Shaheed Sena Officers Association for pressing their demand for ensuring justice.
While reading out a written statement, slain Colonel Md Mojibul Haque鈥檚 wife Nehreen Ferdousi alleged that they on January 29 raised their demand for not releasing murder case convicts going beyond law.
鈥楽ince then, several victim families have been facing threats, which are sad and unexpected. I want to say loudly that if any kind of attack is launched on the families of martyrs or any wrong, unwanted and sarcastic comments is made against them, the Shaheed Sena Officers Association will protest and take legal assistance,鈥� said Nehreen.
She urged the government to declare February 25 as Shaheed Sena Dibas.
On February 25-26, 2009, at least 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the BDR carnage.
On Wednesday, sacked BDR members blocked a road near the secretariat in Dhaka, demanding the release of imprisoned BDR members and reinstatement of jobs of the sacked ones.
On December 22, 2024, the interim government formed a seven-member National Independent Investigation Commission regarding carrying out the investigation into the 2009 BDR massacre.
The commission was asked to submit its report within three months of its formation.
