Pilkhana carnage: Families of slain army officers file complaint with ICT against Hasina
'Sheikh Hasina committed these crimes undermining the sovereignty of Bangladesh,' says the lawyer who filed the complaint
A complaint has been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique and 56 others in connection with the killing of 57 army officers during the 2009 Pilkhana carnage.
Lawyer Uday Tasmir filed the complaint with the chief prosecutor of the tribunal today (19 December) on behalf of the relatives of the slain army officers.
About 15 to 20 family members of the slain officials were present, including Barrister Rakin Ahmed, son of then-BDR Director General Major General Shakeel Ahmed, and Sakib Rahman, son of deceased Colonel Kudrat Elahi.
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Briefing reporters, Advocate Uday Tasmir said, "The killing of 57 army officers on 25-26 February 2009 align with the definition of crimes against humanity and genocide. The then prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates were involved.
"Sheikh Hasina committed these crimes against humanity undermining the sovereignty of Bangladesh, weakening its powerful military forces, and perpetuating her autocracy."
At the briefing, Mehrim Ferdowsi, wife of deceased Colonel Mujibul Haque, said the killing of the 57 army officers during the Pilkhana carnage was premeditated.
"This was not a mutiny. A rebellion doesn't happen like this. These killings were premeditated," she said.
She called for the truth to be uncovered through an investigation.
"Sheikh Hasina committed these crimes against humanity undermining the sovereignty of Bangladesh, weakening its powerful military forces, and perpetuating her autocracy."
"Only a thorough investigation can reveal the truth behind the carnage, and it must be made public. Even today, neither we nor our children know why our loved ones were killed. There must be a reason, and it must come to light," she added.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to refrain from forming a commission to investigate the BDR carnage for now, as two related cases are currently under appeal at the Appellate Division.
The Ministry of Home Affairs informed the High Court about the government's decision on 15 December.
In October, Supreme Court lawyers Tanvir Ahmed and Biplab Kumar Poddar filed a writ petition seeking a directive to form a national independent committee to investigate the 2009 "massacre" at the then-BDR headquarters on 25-26 February.
Subsequently, on 3 November, the petitioners submitted a plea to the home secretary (Public Security Division), requesting the formation of a national independent investigation committee or commission to uncover the truth and to declare 25 February as "Martyrs' Day for Soldiers."
After a preliminary hearing on the writ, the High Court issued a rule and order on 5 November, directing the home secretary to dispose of the application within 10 days and submit a report to the court.
Notably, movements demanding a reinvestigation into the BDR killings intensified after the political shift on 5 August.
