PM Tarique calls Pilkhana killings an ‘assault on nation’s sovereignty’

The massacre exposed vulnerabilities in our national security framework, he says

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described the 2009 killing of Army officers at Pilkhana as an attempt to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

On Wednesday, Tarique said the massacre highlighted weaknesses in the country’s national security structure.

“The Bangladesh Army has a glorious history in the Liberation War and in the nation-building process afterwards. It stands as a symbol of our sovereignty,” Tarique said at the Army Multipurpose Complex in the Cantonment.

“I believe the Pilkhana tragedy was a deliberate attempt to violate our sovereignty. The incident exposed weaknesses in our national security apparatus, and our government will work continuously to modernise and strengthen it in line with global standards,” he added.

Tarique spoke during a discussion marking National Martyred Army Day.

On Feb 25–26, 2009, a mutiny at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka left 74 dead, including 57 Army officers.

The revolt sent shockwaves across the nation and drew international attention.

Following the massacre, the force was restructured, renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and uniforms redesigned.

Tarique also pledged long-term welfare measures for the families of the officers who died during the incident, ensuring their children’s education, medical care, and rehabilitation.

Paying tribute to the fallen, Tarique said: “Ramadan teaches us restraint and self-purification. We pray to Allah to grant peace to the martyrs’ souls, patience and strength to their families, and guide our state institutions along the path of justice, discipline, and responsibility.”