Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) observed Martyrs’ Day yesterday with due solemnity; commemorating the army officers killed in the 2009 Pilkhana BDR carnage.
BGB organized Quran Khwani, doa and milad mahfil yesterday — at all regions, sectors, institutions, and units, including at the Pilkhana headquarters, said a BGB press release.
Floral wreaths were placed at the graves of the slain army officers at Banani Military Graveyard in the morning on behalf of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The home minister, chiefs of three Armed forces, public security secretary of the Home Ministry, and BGB director general also placed floral wreaths at the Banani military graveyard, marking the 10th anniversary.
The president's Military Secretary Maj Gen Md Sarwar Hossain, prime minister's Military Secretary Major General Mia Md. Zainul Abedin, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral AMMM Aurangzeb Chowdhury and Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat were among many who paid their homage.
Speaking to reporters after paying homage to the martyrs, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said: “The trials of the BDR mutiny cases are almost complete. Those accused in the cases will face justice."
Meanwhile, Professor Ainul Islam, brother of Colonel Aftabul Islam who died in the 2009 Pilkhana BDR carnage, said: "The master minds are yet to be brought under the law. We hope anyone related with this incident will be punished."
On Tuesday, a special prayer and milad mahfil will be held at the Pilkhana central mosque at 4:45pm seeking salvation for the departed souls of the Pilkhana tragedy martyrs.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is set to attend the milad mahfil as the chief guest; while home affairs secretary, BGB director general, relatives of the martyrs, and all officers of the BGB headquarters will attend the program.
On February 25, 2009, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) men rose up in armed revolt at Darbar Hall during the three-day 'BDR Week' inside the Pilkhana headquarters and killed 74 people, including 57 deputed army officers.
The mutiny finally ended the following day with the surrender of the firearms, ammunition and grenades through negotiation between the government and the BDR rebels.
Following the mutiny, the paramilitary force was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
A total of 58 cases were filed-one for serious crimes, including murder and looting, and the rest for mutiny, in connection with the incident.
On November 27, 2017, the High Court announced the verdict in the country's largest-ever killing case, sentencing 152 people to death and 423 others to different jail terms and acquitting 277.
The court, however, is yet to release the full text of the verdict.
Among the convicts, 262 mutineers were sentenced to different jail terms starting from three months to 19 years and 161 people, including late BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and local Awami League leader Torab Ali, were sentenced to life imprisonment.
On the other hand, a total of 5,926 BDR personnel were sentenced to different jail terms ranging from four months to seven years in the 57 mutiny cases.
