The government has declared February 25 as National Martyred Army Day, marking 16 years since the massacre at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters.
The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard on Sunday.
Sixteen years ago, on February 25 and 26, 2009, 57 army officers, including the then-director general of the BDR, Major General Shakil Ahmed, were brutally murdered in a mysterious mutiny at the headquarters of the then-Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh-BGB) in Pilkhana, Dhaka.
In total, 74 bodies were recovered from the incident.
Lawyers said that the trial of 834 defendants in a case filed under the Explosives Act, in connection with the killings at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, began in 2010.
The 17th Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, claimed that the Pilkhana massacre was part of an international conspiracy to keep the Awami League in power and establish hegemonic control over Bangladesh.
He said: "This was not a rebellion; it was a planned murder. We lost the nation's brightest sons in the Pilkhana massacre, which struck at the foundation of Bangladesh's sovereignty. The Awami League government created a grave for Bangladesh by orchestrating the killing of 57 army officers, leading to widespread anarchy."
This year, the Cabinet Division's circular stated that the government has officially declared February 25 as "National Martyred Army Day" and categorized it as a "C" category observance day (excluding government holidays).
All concerned ministries, departments, and organizations have been instructed to implement this decision properly.
Martyred Army Association advocacy
Earlier, on February 13 this year, allegations surfaced regarding threats against the families of those killed in the BDR mutiny.
Members of the martyred army officers' families alleged that they were being intimidated by the Awami League for filing a complaint against Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Tribunal regarding the BDR mutiny. They expressed deep concern over the threats.
At the time, they demanded that February 25 be officially recognized as National Martyred Army Day.
Demand to deny bail to convicts
Two cases were filed under the Murder and Explosives Act regarding the highly controversial Pilkhana incident.
The trial of 850 individuals in the murder case concluded on November 5, 2013. This case is unique in the country's judicial history, as it involved the highest number of defendants in any single trial.
The trial was conducted in a temporary court at the Alia Madrasa ground in Old Dhaka.
The court sentenced 152 people to death, 160 to life imprisonment, and 256 to varying terms of imprisonment, while 278 were acquitted.
On November 27, 2017, the High Court delivered its verdict on the death reference and appeals in the case.
A larger bench of three judges upheld the death sentence for 139 defendants, sentenced 185 to life imprisonment, and imposed various terms on another 228 individuals. Additionally, 283 were acquitted.
A total of 54 accused, including 15 who had died before the High Court verdict, were removed from the case. Some, 226 accused have since appealed to the Appellate Division against the High Court's ruling.
Meanwhile, the state has appealed against the acquittal or sentence reduction of 83 accused. These appeals are currently pending hearing.
Following the transition to an interim government, demands for a re-investigation into the incident have resurfaced.
During a press conference in February, families of the slain army officers urged the government to ensure that convicted BDR members were not granted bail or released.
Representing the Shaheed Sena Officers' Association, they emphasized that every citizen has the right to justice.
They called on the government to uphold justice and investigate the unexplained deaths of BDR members in prison.
Claims of innocence
On January 8 and 9, dismissed BDR members and their relatives staged blockades and demonstrations in the Shahbagh and Shaheed Minar areas of Dhaka in support of the convicted individuals.
Their families and supporters held a sit-in protest, demanding a three-point agenda, including a re-investigation into the BDR mutiny case, justice for those wrongfully accused, and the release of prisoners.
Additional demands included the release of convicted BDR members, dismissal of allegedly false cases, reinstatement and rehabilitation of those dismissed, and a transparent reinvestigation into the Pilkhana massacre.
Later, a nine-member delegation, led by Mahin Sarker of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser.
Release of 250 Individuals
On January 23, around 11am, former BDR members were seen leaving Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur, one by one.
Relatives waiting outside the prison gate welcomed them with sweets.
Additionally, former BDR members granted bail in the Explosives Act case were also released from Dhaka's Central Jail in Keraniganj on the same day.
On January 19, Dhaka's Special Tribunal-2 Judge Md Ibrahim Miah, after reviewing testimony and bail applications, ordered the release of those acquitted in the explosives case.
The order stipulated that individuals acquitted in the BDR mutiny murder case and those without pending appeals in the High Court would be granted bail.
Similarly, those who had completed their sentences in the murder case, with no pending appeals, were also eligible for release. However, the order did not specify the exact number of people being released.
Controversy
On January 29, survivors and family members of the martyrs expressed outrage over claims that the convicted BDR members were innocent.
They asserted that the convicted individuals had been found guilty through civil and military court trials, leaving no room to claim their innocence.
They strongly opposed the calls for their release, insisting that justice must be served without delay. They warned that failure to properly prosecute the incident could set a dangerous precedent for future mutinies.
Testimonies before the commission
A seven-member inquiry commission has been established to investigate the killings during the Pilkhana BDR mutiny.
Former director general of BDR (now BGB) ALM Fazlur Rahman has been appointed chairman of this national independent inquiry commission.
On December 23, the Cabinet Division issued a notification forming the commission, with a 90-day deadline for its findings.
Following the interim government's takeover, calls for a reinvestigation have intensified. Consequently, on December 24, the National Independent Investigation Commission was formally established.
Fazlur Rahman said: "Among the 37 individuals who have provided testimony so far, there are three lieutenant generals, two major generals, five brigadier generals, four colonels, four lieutenant colonels, seven majors, two captains, seven BDR members, and three family members of the martyrs."
He noted that most of the army officers who testified were retired, with only one or two still in active service up to the rank of major.
The commission is utilizing a software system called the Investigation Management System to ensure accuracy and transparency in its proceedings.
Rahman further said: "The commission will collect testimonies from all relevant ministries, departments, and authorities. Letters have already been sent to certain ministries for information, and some foreign embassies will also be contacted. A formal request has been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this matter."
He concluded by asserting that both domestic and foreign conspirators had collaborated to orchestrate the massacre in Pilkhana.
