Blooming flowers were laid on the small mound of earth covering Moazzem Hossain’s grave by his grieving family. His aged mother and two sons stood close by, weeping.
The colonel was one of the 57 army officers killed during a bloody mutiny at the BDR (now BGB) headquarters in Pilkhana five years ago.
Like Moazzem’s family, relatives of the other slain army officers thronged the Banani army graveyard to pay tribute and offer prayers yesterday on the fifth anniversary of the brutal killings. They placed fresh blooms on the graves and stood silently, remembering their loved ones.The rows of graves were soon covered in layers of flowers and wreaths.
To commemorate the day that witnessed the massacre of some 74 people, including then BDR chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, by a group of disgruntled BDR personnel, the chiefs of the Bangladesh armed forces and BGB placed wreaths at a memorial inside the army graveyard. The president and the prime minister were represented by their respective military secretaries.
They stood in silence for a minute after soldiers honoured the martyrs with salutes. A prayer was also held for the departed souls.
After paying tribute, BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed told reporters that through the completed trial of the killers, the souls of the martyrs were now in peace.
“BGB will go forward keeping the officers’ memories in heart,” he said.
The family members of the slain officers, however, expressed resentment over some unanswered questions.
Some relatives said they were yet to know the actual reason behind the massacre, and asked the government and intelligence agenciesto keep them informed about any new findings.
Some also felt that the opening of the 12h Asia Cup cricket at Fatullah near the capital on the day disrespected the martyrs and the authorities should have been more considerate.
Most of the murdered officers were buried at the army graveyard, while a number of them were laid to rest in their villages. Their names are engraved in three rows on a black ceramic monument at the graveyard in Banani.
Many government ministers and political leaders also visited the graveyard yesterdayto pay tribute to the martyrs.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, former president HM Ershad, Awami League leader Faruque Khan and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were among those who placed wreaths at the monument.
