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Published : 02 Dec 2025, 09:56 PM
The National Independent Inquiry Commission’s report on the Pilkhana killings has named current Bangladesh Police chief Baharul Alam among officers who allegedly “failed to perform their duties”.
Commission chief retired major general ALM Fazlur Rahman said five police officers were mentioned in the investigation.
“Current IGP Baharul Alam is among them; he was heading the Special Branch at that time.”
Asked why their names appeared, he said: “They failed in their responsibilities, which is why they are listed. Now it is the government’s duty to inform the nation of the recommendations and implement them.”
Responding to the report, Baharul said: “The commission has conducted its investigation. The government will decide on the next steps. There is nothing for me to comment on.”
The other four officers cited in the report are: then IGP Nur Mohammad, the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Naeem Ahmed, former (absconding) additional IGP (SB) Monirul Islam, and Abdul Kahar Akand, additional DIG who was the investigation officer for the killings.
Among the 74 people killed, including 57 Army officers, was Captain Mazhar, son-in-law of then IGP Nur and ADC to BDR Director General Shakil Ahmed.
The investigation committee following the BDR killings was headed by retired lieutenant general Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, now the home advisor.
Speaking at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said the home ministry is reviewing the report seriously and will implement the recommendations once fully studied.
Commission chief Fazlur emphasised that the commission submitted the report as non-classified; the government may choose to publish it.
The Feb 25–26, 2009 Pilkhana mutiny left the BDR headquarters in Dhaka bloodied. Nearly 15 years later, following the fall of the Awami League government, calls for reinvestigation led to the formation of the National Independent Inquiry Commission on Dec 24, 2024, which submitted its report to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday.
The report claims that, alongside apparent approval from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, strong evidence links the ruling Awami League to the killings.
It describes the incident as premeditated, with former MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as the “principal coordinator”, and alleges Indian collusion in the planning.
After the incident, Baharul, 1984 BCS Police cadre officer, served in multiple UN peacekeeping missions, including Afghanistan, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone, and returned to Bangladesh in November 2024 as IGP on a contract following police reshuffles.
Read the full report in Bangla: পিলখানা কমিশনের প্রতিবেদনে নাম, যা বললেন আইজিপি বাহারুল আলম
