Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury marked Martyred Army Day on Monday by paying homage to the military officials who were killed during the 2009 BDR mutiny at Pilkhana, Dhaka.
The ceremony took place at 9am on Tuesday at the Banani Military Graveyard to mark the anniversary of their martyrdom.
The chiefs of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force were also present at the ceremony.
Tributes were paid on behalf of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Additionally, family members of the martyrs placed floral wreaths at the graves, observed a one-minute silence, and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.
Speaking to the media after the tribute, the home affairs adviser said: “The families of the Pilkhana-martyred military officials had been demanding that February 25 be declared Martyred Army Day, and we have implemented that.”
Regarding the legal proceedings, he said: “In the Pilkhana incident, the verdict of the murder case has been delivered. Many of those who were acquitted in that case are accused in explosives cases. The murder case is currently under review at the High Court.”
Responding to a question, he clarified that testimony in the explosives case remains stayed and is beyond their jurisdiction, as it is in the hands of the court.
He added that the court has the authority to grant bail if it deems necessary.
On February 25, 2009, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles or BDR (now Border Guard Bangladesh) men staged an armed revolt at the Darbar Hall of the force's Pilkhana Headquarters in Dhaka. They killed 74 people, including 57 army officers.
The mutiny ended the following day with the surrender of firearms, ammunition, and grenades through a negotiation between the government and the BDR rebels.
