Punish BDR massacre perpetrators to protect security forces

BDR carnage

The need for consolidation of national unity to prevent a tragedy like the Pilkhana massacre of February 2009 by taking the wrong doers to task was emphasised at a discussion meeting organised by the Prime Civil Society at the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Hall Room on Wednesday.

Speakers at the function who included Pilkhana massacre survivers, sufferers and retired army officers with working experience with the BDR, now called BGB, said this was a revenge on the April 2001 border clashes in which the border security force of a neighbouring country suffered losses.

They complained that spoy revolt was orchestrated to conceal a deep rooted conspiracy in which even elements of the then political government were involved to undermine Bangladesh's sovereign existence. 15 subsequent years stood as a testimony to this, they added.

Lt Col Hasinur Rahman (retd) said, now is time to tell the truth that the whole incident was a conspiracy. The real perpetrators should be identified and punished to safeguard the security forces which are symbols of sovereignty. He said that books published in India narrate help sought from Delhi for protection during the carnage and Delhi's readiness to deploy troops in case it was needed.

Begum Tasnuba Maha, wife of Shaheed Major Tanveer Haider Noor described plight as she was yet to get the body of her husband. She said that those responsinble for the massacre should not be protected on any plea. 

Lt Col Faridul Akbar (retd) 2nd in command to Gen Fazlur Rahman during the Padua and Baraimari border clashes and said the country should work on how to prevent a second atttack with view to safeguarding sovereignty.

Major Mohsin (retd) said we could sense what was going to happen as officers were being killed one after another in Pilkhana, but the administration gave a blind eye. Gen Shakil the DG of BDR had talked to the then PM when the massacre was unfolding but no action was taken. He lost his job and pension as he refused to 'apologise' for being blunt about inaction over the massacre.

Maj Md Alamgir Hossain (retd) a surviver narrated his ordeal during the massacre and said one BDR member helped save his life on fateful 25 and 26 February 2009. When the events started unfolding only about 10 BDR men had arms in their hands. Subsequently most of the 2000 solders collected arms from the depot. 

Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor, GreenWatch Dhaka, said that a BDR subedar had reached out to veteran Journalist ABM Musa on the night before seeking help to alert the government of the impending massacre.

Presided over by Md Akbar Hossain, president of the Prime Civil Society, the meeting was also addressed by Sheikh omar, lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Adv Zainul Abedin, Maj Razaul Hasan Shaheen (retd) and Lt Col Ferdous Aziz (retd).