Pilkhana carnage: Sacked BDR members block Shahbagh for reinstatement
Family members of those sentenced to prison also demanded their release
Members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who were dismissed following the 2009 Pilkhana carnage, blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital today (8 January), demanding reinstatement in the force, renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Family members of those imprisoned following the massacre during the two-day mutiny at the paramilitary force's headquarters on 25-26 February 2009 also joined the protest and demanded their release.
The dismissed members and the families of the imprisoned BDR personnel started a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning, Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Police (Shahbagh Zone) Shakil told The Business Standard.
They later headed toward the residence of the chief adviser, but the police stopped them in front of the Shahbagh police station, he said, adding that the protesters took position in front of the police station and the National Museum.
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The demonstrators ended their protest around 5pm, Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station, told TBS.
According to sources, the protests were organised in connection with the hearing of the case filed against the BDR members under the Explosive Substances Act, which is set for tomorrow.
The protesters demanded bail for all the imprisoned members and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for their release. They vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
Ramna Zone Assistant Police Commissioner Abdullah Al Gagan told journalists that Mahin Sarkar, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, expressed solidarity with their demands and spoke in favour of realising the imprisoned BDR members.
Police were deployed to control the situation, he added.
Those at the rally claimed that the killing of the army officers in the incident was part of a blueprint orchestrated by then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and that the BDR members were systematically framed in it.
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the incident, which occurred just over a month after Hasina's Awami League formed the government in January 2009.
On 23 December, a commission was formed to uncover the true reasons behind the 2009 Pilkhana massacre.
Earlier, on 17 December, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam announced that his ministry would form a committee within the next five working days to ensure justice for the BDR massacre.
The announcement came amid growing calls for justice and accountability for one of the most tragic and unprecedented events in the country's history.
