Today (February 25, 2024 ) marks 15 years of the brutal killing of army officers in Pilkhana. On this day in 2009, the then  BDR-Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh- BGB) headquarters was brutally massacred by the misguided soldiers.  The nation will observe 15th anniversary of the brutal killing at the Pilkhana BDR (now BGB) headquarters today. On February 25 and 26 of that year, some misguided BDR members brutally killed 57 army officers, 17 more people, including women and children. BGB will observe the martyrdom anniversary today in memory of them. According to a press release, at around 9am floral wreaths will be placed  at the graves remembering the slain army officers at the Military Graveyard.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Sunday) cautioned the countrymen about repetition of August 15, 1975-like carnage as those who doesn’t like country’s development wouldn’t sit idle, reiterating that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack was launched under BNP government’s direct patronage. “More attacks may come. The August 15, 1975 attack was carried out when Bangabandhu started country’s development. Today, Bangladesh became developing nation and is heading towards a developed one ---those who doesn’t like this, they will not sit idle, they must attack ---so be alert about this,” she said. The premier also cautioned the people of the country about conspiracy being hatched as the next general election is approaching nearer.  Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League (AL) President, was presiding over a discussion organised by her party at its 23 Bangabandhu Avenue central office marking the 18th anniversary of the gruesome August 21, 2004 grenade attack.  The barbaric attack took away the lives of 22 AL leaders and activists and injured other several thousand people.   The Prime Minister said the Great Allah saved her time and again from various attacks as the Almighty has certainly bestowed some tasks on her. “We, who got new life surviving the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks, have the responsibility to the people. And our today’s pledge is to perform the duties till the last breath,” she said.   Mentioning that it was impossible to conduct such heinous attacks without state patronage, the premier said the then BNP government’s subsequent activities such as destroying all evidences, including unexploded grenades, helping killers flee the scene and even the country cleared the state sponsorship. Referring to Khaleda Zia’s remarks a few days before the attack that she (Sheikh Hasina) would never have to be the prime minister or even the opposition leader in future, she said Khaleda Zia knew everything well. In this connection, the premier said Khaleda Zia also made such remarks before planting bombs at Kotalipara that the AL will not be able to go to power in 100 years. She questioned how Khaleda Zia made such a forecast, saying, “If you follow her comments, these plots will come out”. AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech at the discussion while it’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap moderated it. At the outset of the meeting, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack and the martyrs of the August 15 carnage. Immediately after reaching the venue, the Prime Minister placed a wreath at the makeshift podium to show respect to the August 21, 2004 martyrs. Later, she along with AL’s general secretary placed another wreath on behalf of the party.     Sheikh Hasina said the entire world is now witnessing economic debacle due to ongoing Coronavirus, Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions and people have been suffering immensely for those reasons. “The world is now facing an economic meltdown which impacts on our country. We’re thinking of protecting the people of our country from it,” she said. The Prime Minister called upon all to join hands with the government to help rescue Bangladesh from the situation instead of making wholesale criticisms. Considering the global context, she asked the countrymen to show austerity in using electricity, gas and water as the rich countries including USA, UK, Australia and Germany are facing difficulties. The Prime Minister reminded the people, who raised questions (regarding  2014 and 2018) elections, about the so-called polls during regimes of Khaleda Zia and Ershad that included February 15 of 1996 voter-less general election by Khaleda Zia. She even asked them to enquire about the election of 2001 in which her party Awami League had got maximum votes. “How many people could cast their votes even in the 2001 general election? AL leaders and activists deserted their houses as immense torture was carried out on them four days prior to the election by employing army countrywide. Despite it, the AL got the maximum votes, but failed to get maximum seats due to mechanism,” she said. About participation in elections by BNP, the premier questioned how BNP will take part in the polls as it is leaderless as their leaders are either accused (of different cases) or fugitive. “How will they get votes and by seeing whom the people will vote for them?” she said, adding that the BNP boycotts the election in fear of defeat.                                                                                   The Prime Minister said she has belief and trust in people as they voted her party to power for the third consecutive term since 2008, urging the countrymen to be alert as conspiracy is being hatched as usual ahead of the next general election. BNP is running after foreigners to come to power, she said, adding that people will decide which party will come to the power and whether they want the reign of darkness with terrorism and militancy or the development.   “Killing is the character of the BNP. We are urged to sit with them to bring them into election. Why? I don’t understand. Are there no people in Bangladesh?” she questioned. About the August 21 grenade attacks on an AL rally in protest against terrorism and militancy and grenades attacks on the then Bangladeshi born British high commissioner Anwar Chowdhury, she said the attacks were carried out under the direct patronage of the BNP government. “Such an attack on a rally in broad daylight can’t take place without patronisation of the government. The target was to kill me and destroy the Awami League,” she said, reminiscing the carnage that was launched immediately after she concluded her speech. The Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia had sent abroad four persons, including one of the perpetrators of August 21 grenade attack Maulana Tajuddin, and killers of Bangabandhu Col Rashid and Dalim by Singapore Airlines on that day (August 21, 2004).  She said it was learnt that Col Rashid and Dalim came to Dhaka at that time and were under supervision of Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman. She added that the perpetrators had decided to leave the country when they were sure that she did not die. The premier said after assuming office in 2001, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government established a reign of terror across the country and killed thousands of leaders and activists of the Awami League.  Recalling the terrible scene of the grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina, who was the leader of the opposition in parliament at that time, said the party leaders and activists including Mohammad Hanif saved her life by creating a human shield. Holding the BNP government responsible for destroying the evidence of the grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina questioned, “If the BNP was not involved in the carnage, why did they damage the evidence?” After the grenade attack, a government organization washed the entire area by pouring water to erase all evidence, the premier said. “The BNP government sacked a young army officer who wanted to keep an unexploded grenade as evidence … it means that they did not want to keep a single evidence of the attack”, she said. The Prime Minister said after the attack on that day, police lobbed tear gas canisters and resorted to lathi (baton) charge on AL leaders and workers instead of rescuing the dead and the injured persons to give a scope to the attackers to flee without trouble. Pointing out that six opposition lawmakers were injured in the attack, the Prime Minister said they were not allowed to utter a single word or discuss the matter in parliament. The most painful thing was that no pro-BNP physicians were present in the hospitals particularly the Dhaka Medical College Hospital to treat the injured people, she said. “Even we were barred from bringing a resolution in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) to condemn the attack. Rather taking the floor, the then prime minister and leader of the house Khaleda Zia ridiculed the issue, saying, “Who will kill her (Sheikh Hasina)?,” she said. The AL president also prayed for eternal peace of the souls of those embraced martyrdom in the August 21 grenade attack. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Monday) called upon the nation to remain alert against 1975 like killings, coups and conspiracies that could hinder the country's prosperity.    "I urge the nation to be alert against killings (like 1975), coups and conspiracies in Bangladesh that can impede country's progress and also against assignation of children," she said.    The Prime Minister said this while formally opened the "Sheikh Russel Day" and distributed "Sheikh Russel Gold Medal" among the winners on the 58th birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, through video conferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.   Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad organized the function under direct supervision of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.   The Prime Minister mentioned that the Father of the Nation had enacted a law in 1974 to ensure security for the children, saying, "How much unfortunate it was that his children had to die by the hand of killers."   Sheikh Hasina, the eldest sister of Sheikh Russel, said with an emotion charged voice that the killers brutally assassinated Russel on August 15 in 1975 after killing his father, mother, brothers, and uncle (chacha) as he wanted to go to his mother.    She questioned: "Why was the baby killed? What was his guilt? What was the guilt of others? Was it a crime to liberate the country?"   The premier said that her government has been trying to ensure that no such incidents would take place in the future.    Describing the children as "future of the coming days" she said, "I want everyone to perform their duties accordingly to give the children security, love and a beautiful and meaningful life."    Sheikh Hasina called upon the children to pay attention in study as nothing is as worthy as education.    "I just want to say to the children that do your study with attention because education is the most valuable asset which will never be lost, stolen or snatched away," she said.   The Prime Minister urged the guardians to encourage their children to study and take part in sports, cultural programmes and other extracurricular activities.    She said that the schools, colleges and universities across the country are gradually reopening after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19, urging all concerned to maintain health protocols to remain protected from the deadly virus.    Greeting the winners of various competitions, she said that giving a reward is a recognition which creates fresh spirit among the winners to do better in the future and create love and dutifulness towards the country.   The Prime Minister distributed "Sheikh Russel Gold Medal" among 10 children in five categories -- education, sports, science and technology, fine arts-literature-culture, and children with special needs --- for their outstanding contribution to the respective fields.   The awards include a medal weighing one tola of gold, a laptop and a certificate while prizes were also distributed among the winners of on-line quiz competition.   Besides, laptops are being distributed among 4000 freelancers out of 40,000 participants under the Learning and earning Development Projects (LEDPP) for their outstanding performance.   The Prime Minister also distributed prizes among the winners of the sports and cultural competitions across the country arranged by Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad.   She also handed over prizes among the winners of roller skating competitions organised by Roller Skating Federation.    The Prime Minister also unveiled the cover of two books -- one titled "Sheikh Russell Jhore Jawa Phul (Sheikh Russel, a fallen flower) and another on "Sheikh Russel Deepta Joyullas, Adommo Attabishaws (Sheikh Russel radiant joy, indomitable confidence).   An Audio-visual presentation on the life of Sheikh Russel was screened and the theme song of the "Sheikh Russel Day" was also played at the function.   The nation, for the first time, is observing the day in a befitting manner, as the government had earlier announced October 18, the birthday of Sheikh Russel, as "Sheikh Russel Day" under the category "Ka".   The day is also being observed at Bangladesh missions abroad while different dailies published special supplements today highlighting the significance of the Day.   State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the function and it's Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam, spoke on the occasion.   Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad Secretary General KM Shahidullah gave a welcome address and Afsa Zafar Srijeeta expressed her feelings on behalf of the children at the function while a parishad leader Barrister Jahangir Hossain Rani moderated it.   A doa was also held at the function, seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Sheikh Russel and other martyrs of August 15 in 1975.   The premier later witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by artists of Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad.   Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on October 18 in 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi 32 no road in the city.   He was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975 when he was a student of class four at the University Laboratory.   To mark the day, government bodies, ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, and different socio-cultural organizations have taken various programmes to observe the day at national and international level.   Recalling the mayhem after October general elections of 2001, Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League (AL), said the BNP-Jamaat alliance committed genocide like the Pakistan occupation forces during the War of Liberation in 1971.   They killed and inhumanly tortured many leaders and activists of her party, even didn't spare children like the Pakistani forces during that period, she said.    The BNP-Jamaat clique also burnt people including children to death by carrying out arson attacks in the name of so called movement for ousting the government, she added.    The Prime Minister said after Bangabandhu's assassination, around 19 coups had taken place in army and thousands of officers and soldiers of the force were killed (in the name of trial) centering the coups by military dictator Ziaur Rahman.    Many family members of those army officers and soldiers even did not get bodies of their beloved ones, she added.    Other than army officers and soldiers, many AL leaders and workers were also killed and tortured after the 1975 changeover, she said, adding that bodies of many officers had disappeared.    After assuming office, the AL government has been trying relentlessly to give the people an improved life by ensuring every fundamental right, turning Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.   "I only want to ensure that there will be no injustice and repression in the country and people will live a beautiful life," she added.    Sheikh Hasina recalled the birth time of Russel, saying they all, including her sister Sheikh Rehana, her brothers Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal, were waiting eagerly to hear the cry of new baby and to take him on their laps.   She added Russel always stayed beside Bangabandhu after he got released from the prison in February of 1969 in fear of losing father as Bangabandhu was arrested in May of 1966 following the announcement of the six-point demand.    The Prime Minister said her father was arrested in May of 1966 after announcement of the six-point demand and Russell was born on October 18 in 1964.   "Baba (Bangabandhu) used to love children. He loved to feed Russel with his own hand. He was again sent to jail and Russel was deprived of his love and affection," she said.   The premier, in an emotion choked voice, said that Sheikh Russell used to cry after meeting their father in jail.   "Russel used to cry on those days when they visited Bangabandhu in jail -- He (Russel) could not say anything as he was too little, but he had suppressed his pain," she also said.   As Russel liked to stay with his father, Bangabandhu took Russel with him to different places after the Liberation War, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that their mother also used to get ready Russel with the dress of prince court as Bangabandhu would wear it.   Noting that Sheikh Russel had a dream to be an army officer, she said, "He (Russel) used to gather all the children together and do a parade whenever we went to our village home." Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, there is a strange similarity between the incidents of pathetic Karbala incident and the incident of killing father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members. Her comment came in at the program of national mourning day organized by Dhaka metropolitan south and north Awami League on Sunday. The Prime Minister joined the program virtually from her Ganobhaban residence in the capital. The premier said, the grandson Imam Hossain  of our prophet Hazrat Mohammad (Sm.) was brutally killed by the enemy on Muharram 10. They were in the path of justice. No woman or child was killed in this carnage. But no mercy was shown for the women and children in the 15 August killings. She said, every time the 15 August carnage memorizes us the Karbala incident, as if the incident again occurred in Bangladesh. About 15th August carnage she said, from where the perpetrators get the courage? The interview provided to the media like BBC and other newspapers, there Colonel Rashid and Colonel Faruk acknowledged that Zia was with them. They got all types of help from Ziaur Rahman. AH       

The nation on Monday observed with a heavy heart the 10th anniversary of the February 25-26, 2009 Peelkhana carnage, in which 74 people including 57 army officers were killed, in a befitting manners. Representatives of the President and the Prime Minister and the Home Affairs Minister, chiefs of the three services, secretary of Public Security Division of the Home Ministry, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) director general and family members of the martyrs laid floral wreaths at the Military Graveyard in Banani this morning, said an official release of BGB. Reports BSS. One-minute silence was also observed to pay respect to the martyrs and a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of their departed souls. To mark the anniversary, the BGB, the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), took up an elaborate program across the country. Khatme Quran was held at all the regions, sectors, organizations, and units of the BGB Monday while Milad and doa mahfils were also held at the mosques and BOP (border observation post) of the BGB. On February 26, special doa and milad-mahfil will be held at Philkhana Central Mosque after Asr prayer at 4.30pm. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is expected to be present as the chief guest in the program. Senior Home Secretary, Director General of BGB, close relatives of the martyrs, officers working at the Peelkhana, GCO and other employees, among others, will participate in the function. On February 25 in 2009, several hundred BDR soldiers took up weapons against their superior officers at Darbar Hall coinciding with the “BDR Week” inside the Peelkhana headquarters and killed 57 officers including the then BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed. The 36-hour-long mutiny finally ended on the next day when the mutineers were forced to lay down their weapons. On January 23, 2011, the BDR was renamed as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) under a massive reconstruction drive that also included changes of the uniform, the flag and the monogram. As part of the move, a new law was made stipulating death for mutiny. Under the subsequent actions, mutineers were exposed to trial under the BDR Act and several thousands of BDR soldiers were jailed for different periods up to seven years by some special courts. Earlier on November 6, 2013, a Dhaka court awarded death penalty to 150 members of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles and two civilians for their role in the massacre of 74 people, including 57 army officers, at the BDR Peelkhana headquarters in 2009. It sentenced 161 others, including ex-BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and ward-level Awami League leader Torab Ali, to life imprisonment for their involvement in the carnage. Pintu later died of disease at the jail. The court also handed down rigorous imprisonment, ranging from three to 10 years, to another 256 people, mostly BDR jawans, in the BDR carnage case filed with the Lalbagh Police Station on February 28, 2009. Earlier on November 27 in 2017, the High Court (HC) confirmed death for 139 out of 152 convicts who were given capital punishment by lower court in BDR carnage case. When contacted, deputy attorney general Zahid Sarwar Kazol told BSS, “The full verdict of the High Court (HC) in the Peelkhana killing case will soon be published.” However, the prosecution side has tried their best to complete the trial in explosive substances act regarding the Peelkhana carnage. Among rest of the convicts, the court commuted death penalty of eight to life-term imprisonment and acquitted four others. Another death row convict died earlier. Besides, the court upheld life-term for 146 convicts, awarded different terms of imprisonment to 196 and acquitted 41 others. Out of the total convicts, three died during hearing of the appeals and death references. AH

Reading out the verdict of the high court on the murder case which was filed after the hellish carnage at the then BDR headquarters in Pilkhana in February 2009 could not be completed on Sunday.  Justice Md. Abu Zafor Siddiqui said this while reading out the verdict. He said, there are one thousand pages observations in the verdict. The judges will read out the more than one thousand pages verdict on Monday also. The verdict proceedings of the case started at 10:55 am on Sunday in the three member special bench led by Justice Md. Shawkat Hossain. At the beginning Shawkat Hossain started reading out the verdict. The other members of the bench are Justice Md. Abu Zafor Siddiqui and Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder. After reading out the verdict till 1 pm the court went on an interval. Then the court started delivering the verdict again. So far in the observation this carnage was termed as brutal and atrocious killings. The court said, the then EPR played heroic role for fighting against Pakistani force during the liberation war. The force engaged to protect the border worked with full honor in and outside of the country. But in 2009 some members of BDR conducted the killings showing no respect to the existing laws. They have to bear the ignominy for a long time. There is no example of killing 57 army officers at a time in the history. The present Prime Minister took logical steps with strong courage to tackle the situation. This is the biggest case in the history of Bangladesh considering the number of accused. 74 persons including 57 army officers lost their lives in the carnage of 25th and 26th February in 2009. The judicial court delivered the verdict on 5th November, 2013 in the killing case. With the verdict of high court the two steps of the judicial process is going to be ended. In the case 846 persons were accused. 568 persons were punished. Of them 152 accused were awarded death penalty, 160 accused were awarded life time imprisonment and 256 were awarded imprisonment of different terms by the judicial court. In the case 278 were acquitted. Later death references of the accused came to the high court. The sentenced awarded persons also filed jail appeal and appeal against the punishment. State also filed appeal against the acquittal of 69 persons. The hearing which started on 18th January 2015, concluded on the 370th day on 13th April last. On that day the court kept the case as Curia Advisari Vult (CAV). Later the high court fixed the date for delivering verdict on 26th November. AH