The Ministry of Home Affairs will form a committee within the next five working days to ensure justice for the BDR massacre, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam said Tuesday.
This comes over 15 years after the tragic incident that left 74 people dead, including 57 army officers.
Speaking at an urgent press conference at his ministry at Secretariat this morning, the adviser said that the committee would comprise retired judges, police officials, and members of the armed forces, with a majority representation from the Armed Forces.
While the committee would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the BDR mutiny, the decision to launch a reinvestigation remains under the jurisdiction of the court, the adviser said.
“The committee will be tasked with a full-scale probe into the incident to uncover all aspects of the tragedy,” he said.
“The government is determined to re-investigate and ensure justice in the BDR killings. Since its formation, the interim government has been working toward this goal,” said the adviser.
He reiterated his consistent stance on the matter, saying: “I have been vocal about re-investigating the BDR killings from the very beginning, both as a former army member and as a concerned citizen.”
The mutiny, which occurred on February 25-26, 2009, remains one of the most significant and controversial events in Bangladesh’s history.
Addressing the timeline for submitting the investigation report, he said: “We will first collect names for the committee. This process may take some time, as not everyone is willing to join such committees. After finalizing the members, we will consult with them to determine the scope and timeline for the report.”
However, the exact number of members is yet to be finalized, though it is likely to be five, seven or nine, with more representation from the armed forces, he added.
On whether the committee would be headed by a judge or another official, the adviser said that the committee will be led by the most senior member.
He added that the format -whether it will be a committee or a commission - would be decided based on discussions after its formation.
When asked whether there is any confusion with the law ministry, the Home Affairs Adviser said: "No, there is no confusion with the law ministry. However, we will sit with the law adviser and take their opinions."