The families of the victims of Pilkhana carnage of 2009 are going to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to seek justice.
Advocate Saquib Rahman, son of slain Colonel Quadrat Elahi Rahman Shafique, on Thursday (November 28) said they would file a complaint at the ICT within two weeks seeking to unearth the 'truth' behind the Pilkhana tragedy happened almost 15 years ago.
Saquib revealed it during a press conference held at Rawa Hall in Mohakhali, where he spoke on justice for the 74 victims, including 57 Army officers, who were killed during the Pilkhana massacre, and declare the day as 'Martyrs' Day' for the slain soldiers.
He alleged that the conspirators of the BDR carnage were in power during the Awami League government. "The current government has not given us even five minutes of time. Now, we hope the government will provide security to the victims' families who are filing the complaint. Because the people we will sue were in power during the previous government," he said.
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Mirza Azam will be named in the complaint, he said, adding that according to the Doctrine of Command Responsibility of the international law, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina can also be brought to justice.
"As the then head of the Ministry of Defense, she cannot evade responsibility. We will also file a complaint against her…In addition, the then army officers will be mentioned, especially those who were DGFI officers. We will also mention some journalists who created false narratives during that time."
He said the trial proceedings of the BDR Mutiny case have been pending at the Appellate Division for the past 15 years, and that they were unaware of any recent developments in the case, adding that no one had made any contact throughout this prolonged period.
"We, the victims, have no idea about the status of the case. Then, how will the people of the country know?" he questioned.
Meanwhile, Rakin Ahmed, son of Major General Shakil Ahmed, demanded that those responsible for the Pilkhana massacre be brought to justice following a thorough investigation.
Rakin also called for the declaration of Pilkhana Massacre Day as Martyrs' Day, stating, "If the perpetrators are punished, all the people of the country will stand by us. Specific measures must be taken for those who were removed from their jobs for seeking justice for the killings."
He demanded justice for the murder of Chattogram lawyer and the arrest of those involved in the attempt to kill Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam.
Nahrin Ferdousi, wife of slain Colonel Mujibul Huque, also made several demands during the press briefing. These included the declaration of February 25 as 'Martyr Army Day' through a gazette before February 2025, lowering of the national flag to half-mast on that day across the country, renewal of investigations into the Pilkhana killings, provision of updates to the victims of the Pilkhana tragedy regarding the progress of the proposed inquiry commission, and the release of all investigation reports to the public.
She called for the 57 slain army officers to be honoured as 'Martyrs,' inclusion of the Pilkhana tragedy in school textbooks, and ensuring of justice for all those innocent individuals arrested in connection with the case, following the disposal of the case.
On February 25, 2009, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) personnel staged an armed revolt at the Darbar Hall of the force's Pilkhana headquarters during the three-day "BDR Week."
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the massacre that began on this day.
The mutiny ended the following day (February 26) after a negotiation between the then government and the BDR rebels, which resulted in the surrender of firearms, ammunition, and grenades.
