No mutiny in BDR, it was a ‘conspiracy to kill army officers,’ says probe commission chief

The army was just watching and local and foreign conspirators carried out the massacre, he says

Retired maj gen ALM Fazlur Rahman heading the new inquiry commission into the BDR killings believes there was no mutiny in the border force in 2009 and it was “a conspiracy” to kill the army officers.

The former BDR director general, who was made chief of the commission by the interim government two weeks ago, dubbed the two-day incident, which took place at the then Bangladesh Rifles, or BDR, Headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana, as a "repeat of the Battle of Plassey”.

Speaking at a discussion attended by retired army personnel in the capital on Monday, he said: "Our army was standing on the ground and local and foreign conspirators carried out the massacre together."

The seven-strong commission was formed on Dec 23 amid a growing clamour following the change in power for a reinvestigation into the killings of 74 people, including 57 army officers, which caused a stir at home and abroad during the Awami League government.

The panel has been asked to submit its findings to the government within 90 days but it has not yet started the investigation properly.

Offices and vehicles have also yet to be allocated.

Commission chief Fazlur, who was the chief of the border force from Feb 29, 2000, to Jul 11, 2001, attended a meeting with the family members of those killed in the BDR massacre at Retired Armed Forces Officers' Welfare Association, or RAOWA, Complex in the capital's Mohakhali.

On Jul 11, 2001, he was removed from the post of BDR director general and taken back to the army after a clash with the BSF at the Rowmari border in Kurigram in April of that year.

He was sent into early retirement during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government on Mar 17, 2002.

Representatives of RAOWA, relatives of the officers killed in Pilkhana on Feb 25 and 26, 2009, the surviving officers of Pilkhana, and those serving in the army at that time were present in the meeting.

The representatives of the participants spoke first. Then the head of the independent probe commission answered some of their questions.

He said, "It’s not a mutiny. It was a conspiracy to kill the officers. BDR has been weakened by it, its name has been changed. The army has been weakened, the country has been weakened.

"Many people still say India is involved. Many of us may have an opinion. I want to say one thing for the sake of an impartial investigation.

“It won't be enough to just say India is involved, or a general is involved. There has to be evidence against them. Big or small, it doesn't matter - but the proof is a must. A lot will depend on that."

Fazlur told bdnews24.com that the commission would launch a website soon to ask for documentary evidence and data.

"We have already received many responses in various ways. We will not hide them," he added.