Bangladesh Defense
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2009 BDR CARNAGE
Army probe was blocked from questioning Nanak, Taposh: Moeen
Staff Correspondent 14 August, 2026, 20:26
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Jahangir Kabir Nanak | New Age collage
Former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed has alleged that the Bangladesh Army’s court of inquiry into the 2009 BDR carnage was prevented from questioning key Awami League leaders, including Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
Moeen made the allegation during his testimony before the National Independent Inquiry Commission, a probe body formed by the interim government and led by Major General (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman.
A selected portion of his testimony taken in 2025 was posted on Facebook on Thursday by commission member Shahnawaz Khan Chandan.
The army formed a 20-member court of inquiry after the February 2009 BDR carnage under the leadership of then Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
‘He approached their office and they denied. They said they will not give statement…Nanak was [then] a state minister, he [Jahangir] approached his office and what I was told that the [then] prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] was not happy…she was not happy that he is trying to take their statements.’
Moeen further claimed that the inquiry team was systematically obstructed from carrying out its work.
‘General Jahangir was not allowed to work….the poor man has been at the gate of that prison for a long time [to speak to accused], he was not allowed to talk to anyone. If you are not allowed to talk, how will you get the information?’ he said.
‘They [members of the court of inquiry] were not allowed to talk to them... they were not allowed to talk to Nanak, then they were not allowed to talk to Tapas. So if you want to get at the things, you have to talk.
‘They [the members of the court of inquiry] have also suggested that a separate inquiry is needed to find out the reason for this. Did the [then] government do it? Then There were other recommendations. Nothing has been done.’
When contacted, Lieutenant General ( retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who later served as home adviser in the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, confirmed Moeen’s account.
‘Not just Taposh and Nanak, many other people did not respond to requests for talk. Even the then DGFI failed to respond to our request,’
Jahangir also revealed that after assuming office as home adviser, Moeen urged him to initiate a fresh investigation into the massacre.
‘He [Moeen U Ahmed ] told me that since I could not accomplish the job at that time I should take a fresh initiative to investigate the matter. At his request, I, along with General Hafiz [Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the chief adviser] went to the chief adviser and convince to form a fresh inquiry committee.’
In his testimony, Moeen also said he feared that India might intervene if the Bangladesh Army acted against the wishes of the then Awami League government during the crisis.
‘Nobody told me about it, but I was hearing it all the time that India has planned to do something if the army or armed forces go against the government. It is saying it very clearly. It is spreading it all around,’ her said.
‘But nobody told me. No, neither the intelligence nor anyone else. But I was hearing it all the time that they will come if anything goes wrong.
‘So, if this had happened, if they had come—like they left after the war in 71, they would not have come this time. Things would have been different. Even Avinash Paliwal said also that time that on this thing.’
The National Independent Inquiry Commission on November 30, 2025 submitted its report to the government, concluding that the Awami League was organisationally involved in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre.
According to the report, the massacre was pre-planned, with then member of parliament Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh having ‘acted as the principal coordinator,’ while the killings took place with the ‘green signal’ of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The commission said a total of 74 people were killed in the carnage on February 25-26, 2009, including 57 army officers. The death toll also included BDR personnel, family members and civilians.
Staff Correspondent 14 August, 2026, 20:26
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Jahangir Kabir Nanak | New Age collage
Former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed has alleged that the Bangladesh Army’s court of inquiry into the 2009 BDR carnage was prevented from questioning key Awami League leaders, including Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
Moeen made the allegation during his testimony before the National Independent Inquiry Commission, a probe body formed by the interim government and led by Major General (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman.
A selected portion of his testimony taken in 2025 was posted on Facebook on Thursday by commission member Shahnawaz Khan Chandan.
The army formed a 20-member court of inquiry after the February 2009 BDR carnage under the leadership of then Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
‘He approached their office and they denied. They said they will not give statement…Nanak was [then] a state minister, he [Jahangir] approached his office and what I was told that the [then] prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] was not happy…she was not happy that he is trying to take their statements.’
Moeen further claimed that the inquiry team was systematically obstructed from carrying out its work.
‘General Jahangir was not allowed to work….the poor man has been at the gate of that prison for a long time [to speak to accused], he was not allowed to talk to anyone. If you are not allowed to talk, how will you get the information?’ he said.
‘They [members of the court of inquiry] were not allowed to talk to them... they were not allowed to talk to Nanak, then they were not allowed to talk to Tapas. So if you want to get at the things, you have to talk.
‘They [the members of the court of inquiry] have also suggested that a separate inquiry is needed to find out the reason for this. Did the [then] government do it? Then There were other recommendations. Nothing has been done.’
When contacted, Lieutenant General ( retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who later served as home adviser in the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, confirmed Moeen’s account.
‘Not just Taposh and Nanak, many other people did not respond to requests for talk. Even the then DGFI failed to respond to our request,’
Jahangir also revealed that after assuming office as home adviser, Moeen urged him to initiate a fresh investigation into the massacre.
‘He [Moeen U Ahmed ] told me that since I could not accomplish the job at that time I should take a fresh initiative to investigate the matter. At his request, I, along with General Hafiz [Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the chief adviser] went to the chief adviser and convince to form a fresh inquiry committee.’
In his testimony, Moeen also said he feared that India might intervene if the Bangladesh Army acted against the wishes of the then Awami League government during the crisis.
‘Nobody told me about it, but I was hearing it all the time that India has planned to do something if the army or armed forces go against the government. It is saying it very clearly. It is spreading it all around,’ her said.
‘But nobody told me. No, neither the intelligence nor anyone else. But I was hearing it all the time that they will come if anything goes wrong.
‘So, if this had happened, if they had come—like they left after the war in 71, they would not have come this time. Things would have been different. Even Avinash Paliwal said also that time that on this thing.’
The National Independent Inquiry Commission on November 30, 2025 submitted its report to the government, concluding that the Awami League was organisationally involved in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre.
According to the report, the massacre was pre-planned, with then member of parliament Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh having ‘acted as the principal coordinator,’ while the killings took place with the ‘green signal’ of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The commission said a total of 74 people were killed in the carnage on February 25-26, 2009, including 57 army officers. The death toll also included BDR personnel, family members and civilians.
