Tributes paid to martyrs on Pilkhana Massacre Day

Tributes were paid to the martyrs of the Pilkhana Carnage of 25 February 2009 at the Banani Military Graveyeard on Sunday Feb 25 2024. Photo collected.

Today is February 25 Pilkhana carnage Day. On this day in 2009, a massacre took place at the headquarters of BDR (now BGB) in Pilkhana of capital Dhaka. Today marks 15 years of this gruesome murder. Tributes have been paid to the martyrs on the occasion of Pilkhana massacre day.

On Sunday (February 25) morning, deep respect was paid to the memory of the martyrs by laying wreaths at their graves at Banani Military Graveyard.

First, Military Secretary to the President and Military Secretary to the Prime Minister paid tribute to the martyrs on behalf of the President and the Prime Minister. Then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal paid tribute.

Later, Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hasan and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan paid tributes.

After the three army chiefs, Additional Secretary of Public Security Department and Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui paid tribute on behalf of the Senior Secretary of Public Security Department of Ministry of Home Affairs. After that, the family members and close relatives of the martyrs paid their respects.

After the wreath-laying, a minute's silence was observed in honor of the martyrs and serving military members gave a salute. Later prayers were offered for the souls of the martyrs.

Senior military officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force, JCOs and other ranks, family members and close relatives of the martyrs were present at the time.

On 25 February 2009, the then Bangladesh Rifles (which is now Border Guard Bangladesh or BGB for short) headquarters Pilkhana, wayward soldiers carried out a brutal massacre. Some misguided BDR members brutally killed 57 army officers and 17 others including women and children On February 25 and 26.

 UNB Reported: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal conveyed his anticipation for an imminent final verdict in the BDR carnage case while addressing the media after paying his respects to the martyrs at Dhaka’s Banani graveyard on Sunday morning.

He emphasised the government's expectation for the judicial process to conclude shortly, stating, "We are hopeful that the final judgment will be delivered in the coming days. The completion of the trial hinges entirely on the judicial proceedings, and I can assure there has been no laxity in the trial process."

Acknowledging the complexity of the case, he noted, "Given the involvement of numerous individuals, navigating through these investigations was a colossal endeavour."

Chiefs of the three armed services, the additional secretary of the Public Security Department, and family members of those who lost their lives in the Pilkhana tragedy were at the graveyard at the time. – GW News Desk with UNB