Jatiya Shaheed Sena Dibas was observed on Tuesday, marking the Pilkhana carnage in which 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed at the then Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in the capital Dhaka in February 25-26, 2009.
The day was observed nationally this year as the interim government on February 23, two days before BDR mutiny day, declared February 25 Jatiya Shaheed Sena Dibas.
In the morning on聽 Tuesday, home affairs adviser retired Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury paid homage to the killed officials by placing wreaths at the Military Graveyard at Banani in the capital.
Chiefs of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force also paid homage to the victims.
Tribute to the BDR carnage victims were also paid by the president, the chief adviser, the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Rapid Action Battalion.
While talking to reporters at the Banani graveyard, the home adviser said that they had implemented the day as Jatiya Shaheed Sena Dibas.
鈥榃e have also formed the National Independent Investigation Commission following a demand of the victim families. The commission was formed on December 24, 2024 and would submit the report within three months,鈥� said Jahangir while responding to a question.
He said that if the commission found involvement of the other accused in the carnage, they would also be brought to justice.
A team of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders led by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member retired Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed paid tribute by placing wreaths at the graveyard.
Fakhrul told reporters that brutal killings of army officers at Pilkhana were carried out under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
鈥榃e have united after many years. A huge political change has come in the country. Students and people have created a golden opportunity for us by overthrowing the fascist forces to build a new Bangladesh,鈥� said Fakhrul referring to the July mass uprising that toppled Hasina from power on August 5. 2024.
Victim families also paid tribute to slain members of their families and expressed satisfaction over the government announcing the day officially.
Rakin Ahmed, son of slain former BDR director general Major General Shakil Ahmed and Naznin Ahmed, both of whom were murdered during the carnage, told 抖阴精品 that they were observing the day on a large scale after the Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 fall as no members of intelligence agencies were disturbing them.
鈥榃e expected that the government would declare the day in grade A but it declared it as grade C. We hope that the government would upgrade it,鈥� said Rakin.
Saquib Rahman, son of slain Colonel Quadrat Elahi Rahman Shafique, said that actual perpetrators must not be released.
Chief of army staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Tuesday said that the then Border Guard Bangladesh members had committed murders in the February 25-26, 2009 Pilkhana carnage as no army officers committed those killings.
鈥楩ull stop, there are no ifs and buts here. If you bring ifs and buts, the judicial process of 16 years about those who were in jail and convicted would be hampered. We have to keep in mind clearly and not to hamper judicial process,鈥� said Waker while addressing at a photography exhibition on the BDR carnage, marking its 16th anniversary held at the Retired Armed Forces Officers鈥� Welfare Association, Bangladesh in Dhaka city.
The programme was organised by the RAOWA Club where Border Guard Bangladesh director general Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and chief of naval staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan also addressed.
A prayer session was also held at the Mirpur DOHS central mosque after maghrib prayers.
The BGB in a press release said that it arranged doa mahfil in all mosques, including in the headquarters from Fajr to Zuhr, seeking prayers for the slain people.
On December 19, 2024, the families of 22 slain army officers filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal chief prosecutor, accusing deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former army chief Moeen U Ahmed and 55 others of crimes against humanity and genocide for their suspected involvement in the mutiny.
Newly formed National Independent Investigation Commission on February 20 said that the commission had recorded statements of 37 people, mostly former army officers, in its 41 working days.
