Shaheed Sena Dibash: Tributes pour in for martyrs of 2009 Pilkhana tragedy
Home adviser, chiefs of 3 forces pay tribute at Banani Military Graveyard
Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the chiefs of three forces paid tribute by laying wreaths at the Banani Military Graveyard in the capital this morning (25 February) on the occasion of Jatiya Shaheed Sena Dibash.
The home adviser first laid wreaths at the graves of military officers and members martyred during the 2009 Pilkhana carnage.
After the adviser, the chiefs of the army, navy and air force laid wreaths. Then wreaths were laid by the senior secretary of the public security division of the home ministry and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), followed by the martyr's families.
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A minute's silence was observed, and then prayers were offered for the martyrs' souls.
Talking to the media after paying tribute, the home adviser said, "Families of the Pilkhana martyred military officials had been demanding that February 25 be announced as Martyred Army Day, and we have implemented that."
"In the Pilkhana incident, the verdict of the murder case was delivered. Many of those who were acquitted in that case are accused in explosives cases. The murder case is now under review at the High Court," he said.
Replying to a question, he said the testimony in the explosives case remains stayed and it is not in their hands. It's in the hands of the court. The court can grant bail if it wants.
Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Pilkhana carnage.
On 25 and 26 February 2009, a total of 74 people were killed in a mutiny at the Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka. The then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Director General, Major General Shakil Ahmed, was among 57 army officers killed.
The interim government announced that 25 February would be observed as Jatiya Shaheed Sena Dibash every year, as per a circular issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday (23 February).
