PM Tarique Rahman visits graves of Pilkhana massacre victims on Eid

Most of the 57 victims of the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny are buried at the Banani Military Graveyard

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has visited the graves of Army officers killed in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny at Pilkhana.

The premier and his wife Zubaida Rahman arrived at the Banani Military Graveyard at 9:15am on Thursday, the day of Eid-ul-Azha.

First, the two visited the grave of his father-in-law, former chief of the Navy staff rear admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, and offered prayers for his departed soul.

Afterwards, they went to the graves of army officers killed in the BDR mutiny. There, they stood in front of the memorial pillar and offered special prayers for the departed.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam and other officials and BNP leaders were also present for the occasion.

A total of 74 people, including major general Shakil Ahmed and 56 others, were killed in a mutiny at the then BDR (now Bangladesh Border Guard) headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana on Feb 25 and Feb 26, 2009.

Most of the Army officers killed in the incident are buried in Banani.