[🇧🇩] BDR Mutiny---An Irreparable Damage to Bangladesh's First Line of Defense

[Saif]

Govt should deliver justice for BDR carnage

WHILE the 2009 carnage in the Bangladesh Rifles, later renamed as Border Guard Bangladesh, remains a shocking incident, leaving an indelible scar, the failure to establish the motive and the plotters of the incident and to bring them to justice is unsettling. The rebellion, which began in the...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should deliver justice for BDR carnage
26 February, 2025, 00:00

WHILE the 2009 carnage in the Bangladesh Rifles, later renamed as Border Guard Bangladesh, remains a shocking incident, leaving an indelible scar, the failure to establish the motive and the plotters of the incident and to bring them to justice is unsettling. The rebellion, which began in the border guard headquarters on February 25 and spilled over to some other sector headquarters that day and the day after, left 74 people, including 57 officers deputed to the force from the army, dead. After the incident, which happened less than two months after the Awami League government had assumed office, two investigation committees were formed, one by the government, headed by a former secretary, and the other by the army, but none of them could establish the motive of the rebellion and identify the plotters. Both the reports, yet to be made fully public, which failed to get to the reasons and the plotters, however, suggested further investigation to establish who, if any, hatched the plot and why. Further and thorough investigation, the demand for which has only become louder after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, is important for strategic planning and stopping such events.

In the aftermath of the rebellion, which exposed weaknesses in Bangladesh’s security framework, various theories emerged to explain the underlying causes of the incident. While the official explanation attributed the incident to dissatisfaction about salaries, benefits and working conditions among the soldiers, many security experts found this explanation inadequate and misleading as it is highly unlikely that such an extreme level of violence could erupt solely because of grievances. Survivors, sacked border force personnel and families of the slain officers also allege that the official explanation coming from unpublished investigation reports — a few of the findings and recommendations of the government committee were made public in May 2009 though — is an attempt to hide the motives and plotters of the massacre. A number of survivors and security experts have, meanwhile, also alleged that there is an external, specifically Indian, involvement in the massacre and that the external forces, aided by the political leadership of the day, exploited the existing grievances among the soldiers. This allegation of the involvement of external forces is a serious one and needs to be investigated properly. If such an involvement is there, the implication of the massacre is far-reaching and severely impacts national security, bilateral relations and regional stability.

This is heartening that the government has declared February 25 National Martyred Army Day, assured its commitment to ensuring justice and formed the national independent investigation commission to investigate the rebellion. The government should now deliver on its assurances.​

 

[Saif]

BDR carnage entirely done by BDR men, no ifs or buts: Army chief

The chief of army staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has urged all to refrain from disrupting the trial of the Pilkhana killings, emphasising that the incident was committed entirely by members of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

en.prothomalo.com

BDR carnage entirely done by BDR men, no ifs or buts: Army chief
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 25 Feb 2025, 16: 39

The chief of army staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has urged all to refrain from disrupting the trial of the Pilkhana killings, emphasising that the incident was committed entirely by members of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

The army chief made the statement while addressing a commemoration ceremony at Helmet Hall of the RAOWA Club in Dhaka on Tuesday. He paid tribute to the 57 army officers killed in the 2009 carnage, along with several of their family members.

“Today is a painful day. On 25 February, 2009, we lost 57 brave army officers and some of their family members. I was looking at these pictures while travelling here. You have watched these in pictures, but I have witnessed all these in person. I am a witness of all these brutality,” he said.

He clarified that no army personnel were involved in the killings. “Always, we have to keep in mind that no army personnel carried out this brutality. It was entirely carried out by the then BDR members. Full stop. There are no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ here.”

The army chief warned that questioning the established trial process, which has been ongoing for 16-17 years, could undermine justice. “If you drag in ifs and buts, the trial process that continues for 16 years and the convicted who have been in jail for 17 years will be disrupted. We have to keep it in mind very clearly. Do not spoil the trial. Those who have been sentenced are bound to face it.”

Regarding suspected external involvement, General Waker-Uz-Zaman noted that the authorities have formed a commission to find out if any political leadership or foreign forces were involved in the carnage. “The commission chairman is present here. He will find out and inform you.”

He also warned against misinterpretations and attempts to deviate the narrative. “The bottom line is that our fallen soldiers lost their lives in the firing of the BDR men. Some of us have different views and are trying to channel it towards a different direction. It will not be beneficial for us.”​

 

[Saif]

BDR carnage probe commission asks Hasina, 14 others to appear, testify

The National Independent Investigation Commission on the 2009 BDR carnage has issued a public notice urging 15 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to testify as part of its ongoing inquiry. It made the call in a special notice issued today, saying that due to time...

en.prothomalo.com

BDR carnage probe commission asks Hasina, 14 others to appear, testify
BSS
Published: 08 Mar 2025, 21: 37

Sheikh HasinaFile Photo

The National Independent Investigation Commission on the 2009 BDR carnage has issued a public notice urging 15 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to testify as part of its ongoing inquiry.

It made the call in a special notice issued today, saying that due to time constraint, the commission hopes to complete the process of taking the testimony of the 15 individuals by 31 March of this year.

Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the other individuals are former army chiefs General Moeen U Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed, Maj Gen (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former prime minister's security adviser, Fazle Noor Taposh, former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former member of parliament from Gopalganj-2, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former member of parliament from Dhaka-13, Mirza Azam, former member of parliament from Jamalpur-3 and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former member of parliament from Dhaka-8, Brig Gen (Retd) Muhammad Shamsul Alam, former commander, 44th Rifle Battalion, Lt Gen (Retd) Molla Fazle Akbar, former directorate general of Forces Intelligence, Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, former directorate general, RAB, Abdul Kahar Akond, former police officer, Nur Mohammad, former inspector general of police and Monirul Islam, former additional IGP.

The witnesses are requested to inform the commission in writing of their proposed schedule within 7 days of the publication of the notice, either by phone or e-mail or by letter, as per their convenience.

Online testimony can also be arranged through video conference, the notice said.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BRD carnage mystery must be revealed, CA tells probe commission
BSS
Published :
Apr 16, 2025 19:57
Updated :
Apr 16, 2025 19:57

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the mystery behind the 2009 BRD carnage must be revealed.

“We all are looking for the answers. The commission must be successful in probing this incident. This mystery should be unveiled,” he said when the members of the National Independent Investigation Commission on BDR carnage called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna.

The Commission members met the Chief Adviser to inform him about the progress of its investigation into the barbaric incident, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Yunus said the interim government will provide all-out cooperation to the probe commission, saying, “They brutally killed their own officers. This carnage was carried out smoothly.”

He noted that the entire nation is looking at the investigation commission and that is why it must reveal the mystery behind this incident.

During the meeting, the commission expressed the hope that its probe report would be finalised by June as its investigation is progressing at full speed.

Commission chief Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman said the Commission is contacting various parties.

As the BRD carnage took place 16 years ago, it is being delayed a little bit to contact many of those who had connections with the incident, he said.

Rahman informed the Chief Adviser that many of the accused are staying abroad. “We continue to inquire about their information in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he added.

He said the Commission has already interviewed some people who are in jail now. “There are 23 people abroad who need to be contacted for the investigation. Of them, eight have contacted for their interviews,” he said.

The commission chief further said: “We are investigating the pattern of killings and torture. After the killing of the DG, the rest (of the officers) were killed. This was a planned carnage. Such a carnage cannot happen without a plan”.

Mentioning that it was like the recurrence of Plassey tragedy, he said the Commission has to find out its roots.

Commission member Major General (Retd) Jahangir Kabir Talukder said: “Not a single officer/official was removed in the incident of such a heinous carnage. None has been held accountable. This was a failure of the intelligence agencies, the military and politics.”

Other members of the Commission Brigadier General Md Saidur Rahman, Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Dr M Akbar Ali, Md Shariful Islam, Shahnewaz Khan Chandan and ATKM Iqbal were present at the meeting.

On December 24, 2024, the government formed the seven-member commission to reinvestigate the tragic 2009 BDR massacre and it was asked to complete its probe by 90 working days.​

 

[Saif]

BDR Mutiny: Tania Amir’s statements “misleading, reflect her own political agenda”

Chief Adviser’s press wing on Wednesday said statements by Barrister Tania Amir about the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles mutiny are “misleading” and reflect her own political agenda as a supporter of the deposed Awami League regime rather than the reality of actions by the interim governm

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BDR Mutiny: Tania Amir’s statements “misleading, reflect her own political agenda”
Published :
Apr 30, 2025 20:42
Updated :
Apr 30, 2025 20:42

Chief Adviser’s press wing on Wednesday said statements by Barrister Tania Amir about the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles mutiny are “misleading” and reflect her own political agenda as a supporter of the deposed Awami League regime rather than the reality of actions by the interim government, which is moving with energy unseen 16 years since the tragedy occurred to ensure justice is done.

“The reality is that the interim government will continue to move on several fronts to ensure justice is finally done in this murky case that horrified Bangladeshis when it occurred and has divided public opinion ever since,” said the CA press wing facts referring to Tania Amir’s statements which are circulating on social media, UNB reports.

Although she has taken legal cases independently, the press wing said she is widely seen as aligned with the party’s political and ideological positions.

Given this affiliation, press wing said recent remarks at the Geneva Press Club criticizing the interim government and insinuating that it represents terrorists and mutineers involved in the 2009 BDR mutiny can be understood as politically motivated.

Notably, Amir and other speakers at the Geneva conference did not cite any new evidence; rather, they replayed claims (e.g. death tolls, indemnity laws, prisoner releases) that have circulated among opposition groups for years.

The Geneva press event is part of a diaspora-driven campaign to keep the spotlight on alleged abuses by Bangladesh’s authorities and appears timed to capitalize on this attention and to project a narrative of government impunity to Western audiences, said the press wing.

The timing coincided with the government’s own steps (March 2025) to honour the mutiny’s victims and call for justice, it said.

Tania Amir and allies seized this moment to pitch a negative storyline that might resonate with international fears of militant Islam, said the press wing.

Investigation Commission

On December 22, 2024, the government formed a seven-member National Independent Investigation Commission to re-examine the Pilkhana massacre.

Chaired by retired Maj. Gen. ALM Fazlur Rahman, the commission has collected testimony from dozens of witnesses (about 37 so far, including officers, BDR personnel and victims’ families).

It has vowed to “uncover the true nature of the incident,” identify all culprits, and even probe any domestic or foreign conspiracies.

On Apr 18, 2025 the commission issued a public notice asking anyone with reliable information or testimony about the 2009 carnage to submit it via its website or email, promising confidentiality.

Pledge to Uncover Truth

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a full reinvestigation of the Pilkhana events.

In late February 2025, Commission Chairman Fazlur Rahman told reporters that the inquiry commission had already recorded evidence from dozens of witnesses and that it would call even top figures (e.g. then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed) as needed.

He stressed that the investigation would “uncover the true nature” of the incident, include the real perpetrators in the cases, and examine all possible foreign or domestic plots.

Public Appeal for Information

On 18 April 2025 the Commission publicly invited any citizens or organizations with relevant information to come forward via its website or email. It highlighted the complexity of investigating a 16-year-old crime and assured confidentiality for informants.

This suggests an official effort to be transparent and thorough, contrasting with claims that the government is covering things up.

Court Cases and Releases

In January 2025, hundreds of former BDR personnel were granted bail in mutiny-related cases. Contrary to Amir’s allegation that they were set free with no legal procedures, the prisoners were released on bail.

Families of the slain officers immediately protested that those who massacred army officers should not be freed wholesale.

Meanwhile, survivors’ families have filed new complaints (e.g. with the International Crimes Tribunal) and threatened fresh protests if justice is not secured.

Victims’ Memorialization

The government has simultaneously taken steps to honour the victims. In March 2025, the Cabinet Division officially declared Feb 25 as “National Martyred Army Day,” and accorded “martyr” status to the 57 army officers slain at Pilkhana.

Amir’s affiliation with the Awami League is well known. In November 2023, she and her father, Barrister M Amir-ul Islam, collected nomination papers from the ruling Awami League for parliamentary constituencies Kushtia-3 and Kushtia-4, indicating active political engagement with the party.

Her family background is closely tied to the Awami League’s legacy: her father was instrumental in drafting Bangladesh’s declaration of independence and constitution, and the family has historically supported the Awami League.​