Reinvestigation into BDR carnage soon: Home adviser
While sharing views with the journalists, the adviser re-iterated the interim government’s commitment to establish people’s rights, good governance and justice
The process of re-investigation and serving justice for the BDR carnage will begin soon, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
The adviser made the statement while talking to journalists at his office at the Secretariat today (2 September) following a meeting with Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli.
While sharing views with journalists, the adviser reiterated the interim government's commitment to establishing people's rights, good governance and justice.
"Not only as an adviser but as a former member of the army and a general citizen, I want a just trial of the BDR killings too. The reinvestigation process will begin soon," the adviser said.
During the meeting, Renggli expressed interest in helping Bangladesh prevent human trafficking and initiate insurance for the farmers to increase their ability and means.
In reply, the adviser said the country's farmers are not interested in such a scheme at this moment, and steps will be taken after consulting them in the future.
Speaking about the effects of climate change on Bangladesh, the ambassador urged taking up projects that are innovative and acceptable to farmers.
"Switzerland has vast experience in reforming the police force. Bangladesh can take our help if needed. We will also help in recovering laundered money following international processes," the ambassador said.
During the meeting, the adviser informed the Swiss ambassador about the tough stance of the interim government on corruption and money laundering and sought Switzerland's help in upholding human rights in Bangladesh.
On 25-26 February 2009, a mutiny in the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) left 74 people, including 57 army officers, murdered at the paramilitary force's Pilkhana Headquarters.
On 5 November 2013, a Dhaka court awarded death sentences to 150 BDR members and two civilians, and life imprisonment to 160 others in the case. On 27 November 2017, the High Court confirmed the death penalty for 139 out of the 152 accused.
Following the heinous killings of the army officers at Pilkhana, the government renamed the mutiny-hit paramilitary force BDR to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), changing its logo and uniform.