Major Gen Fazlur Rahman to head 7-member commission for BDR carnage reinvestigation

The government has formed a seven-member independent commission, headed by Major General (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman, to re-investigate the 2009 Pilkhana massacre at the Pilkhana headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles – now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) – which claimed 74 lives, including 57 army officers.

The commission is required to submit a report to the government within three months, according to a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division today. 

The commission's members include Major General (retd) Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder, Brigadier General (retd) Md Saidur Rahman (Bir Protik), retired joint secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, retired deputy inspector general (DIG) of police M Akbar Ali, Associate Professor of Political Science at Dhaka University Md Shariful Islam, and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Education and Research at Jagannath University Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan.

Earlier on 5 November, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to dispose of a petition within 10 days seeking the formation of an independent investigation commission to unearth the truth behind the carnage inside the Pilkhana on 25 and 26 February in 2009.

Commission formed to investigate BDR carnage

According to the notification, the commission has been tasked with identifying the perpetrators, accomplices, conspirators, evidence destroyers, instigators, and other relevant parties, including domestic and foreign individuals, groups, organisations, institutions, and departments involved in this carnage and related crimes.

The committee was also instructed to identify those responsible for failing to prevent the killings and other related crimes, as well as to include any real criminals not previously implicated in the relevant cases filed over the incident.

The notification said that the commission has the authority to visit any location in Bangladesh and summon and question any individual suspected of involvement in the investigation. If needed, the commission may also appoint any qualified person as a member.

The Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for providing all necessary support, including secretarial assistance, and covering the commission's expenses. Any government employee may be assigned to assist the commission.

The head and members of the commission will receive the official rank, salary, honorarium, and benefits as determined by the government. 

However, if the head or any member chooses to perform their duties without pay or benefits, they must obtain approval from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Calls for reinvestigating the BDR massacre grew louder following the fall of the Awami League regime on 5 August.

However, on 15 December, the home ministry unexpectedly informed the High Court that the government had decided to defer forming a commission, citing ongoing appeals in two related cases at the Appellate Division. 

This sparked fresh outrage over the interim government's stance. To address the issue, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced on 17 December that a committee would be formed within five working days.