Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, former minister and member of the BNP Standing Committee, believes that the BDR massacre was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Awami League and the Sheikh family.
He also claimed that the death toll could rise if a thorough investigation is conducted into the BDR (now BGB) headquarters massacre at Pilkhana on February 25, 2009.
Ahmed made these statements at a press conference held at the BNP Chairperson's political office in Gulshan yesterday.
He alleged that, in addition to the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former army chief Moeen U Ahmed, former DSCC mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Awami League lawmaker Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury Liton, Sheikh Salim, Sheikh Helal, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former home minister Sahara Khatun, Mirza Azam, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, and many others were involved.
Ahmed said: "There is no precedent for so many army officers being killed, even during the Great War of Liberation. During the massacre, the BDR chief requested assistance, but none was provided. Former army chief Moeen U Ahmed prohibited army personnel from conducting operations in Pilkhana. The prime minister's (Sheikh Hasina’s) behaviour following the massacre was very mysterious. To prevent the army from taking action, she kept the three army chiefs sitting idly at Ganabhaban."
Ahmed also said that those who committed the killings were initially somewhat panicked, fearing an army operation. However, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina entertained them at Jamuna and quickly announced a general amnesty, their fears subsided.
Never in the history of the world has a JCO been promoted to Major General and appointed Director General of the BDR forces. It was an unprecedented move, with a Subedar being made a Major General in a short time, he added.
Ahmed further claimed that the treatment of the BDR soldiers made it clear that the killings were well-planned. He accused Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leaders of being complicit in the massacre.
Major Ahmed also mentioned that the BNP has sent a letter to the chief adviser of the interim government, demanding a re-investigation and retrial of the massacre. The letter, delivered by a three-member delegation led by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on August 28, sought answers regarding who was involved in the killings, whether there was any foreign intervention, and why the massacre occurred.
He expressed satisfaction that, within a short period, the home affairs adviser, with the consent of the chief adviser, initiated a fresh investigation and retrial of this heinous crime. He further asserted that the massacre was the initial step in a plan to weaken the army.
Ahmed demanded that the army officers dismissed following the BDR rebellion be reinstated. He also alleged that, before the rebellion, a meeting took place between top leaders of the Awami League and BDR soldiers at the residence of Awami League ward councillor Torab Ali on February 22.
He claimed that the plan for the rebellion, the murders, and the disposal of the bodies was finalized at this meeting.
The press conference was attended by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Ismail Zabihullah, and former Lieutenant General of the Bangladesh Army Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury.