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Published : 25 Dec 2024, 02:37 AM
The government has given a 90-day deadline to a newly formed commission to reinvestigate the mutiny and killings at the then Bangladesh Rifles, or BDR, Headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana 15 years ago.
The commission, tasked with uncovering domestic and international conspiracies, as well as identifying those involved, has been granted the authority to summon and question any suspect or persons of interest.
The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification regarding the formation of the seven-strong commission on Tuesday.
Speaking to bdnews24.com on Monday, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government had approved the commission to ensure justice in the BDR massacre.
The commission will be led by former BGB director general ALM Fazlur Rahman.
Other members include retired major general Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder, retired brigadier general Md Saidur Rahman, retired joint secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, retired DIG M Akbar Ali, Dhaka University associate professor Md Shariful Islam, and Jagannath University assistant professor Md Shahnewaz Khan Chandan.
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in a bloody mutiny at the BGB Headquarters in Pilkhana on Feb 25 and 26, 2009, sending shock waves around the world.
The frontier force was rechristened as Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, and its logo as well as uniform were changed.
While mutiny-related trials took place in BGB courts, the killings were tried in conventional courts.
Of the two cases, one for murder and another under the Explosive Substances Act, 468 BDR members remain imprisoned despite serving time for murder due to pending explosives charges.
In the murder trial concluded on Nov 5, 2013, 152 individuals were sentenced to death, 160 to life imprisonment, and 256 to varying prison terms, while 278 were acquitted.
The High Court upheld 139 death sentences, sentenced 185 to life imprisonment, and handed down varying sentences to 228 others in 2017.
These appeals and leave to appeal are now awaiting hearing.
Meanwhile, the explosives charges trial, initiated in 2010, was paused midway to focus on the murder trial, leaving the proceedings incomplete.
The demand for reinvestigation gained traction under the interim government after a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court in November.
The notification outlined the commission's responsibilities, including identifying conspirators, perpetrators, and facilitators, both domestic and international, behind the Pilkhana killings.
The commission has been empowered to visit any location, summon individuals, and induct additional members as needed.
It must submit its findings to the government within 90 days.
The home ministry's Public Security Division will provide logistical and financial support, while commission members will receive government-approved remuneration unless they choose to forgo it with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus's consent.
