BDR carnage: Sacked members, victims' families stage demos demanding reinvestigation

Family members of victims of the 2009 BDR massacre and dismissed members of the force staged a protest at the Shahbagh intersection today (9 January) demanding a reinvestigation.

The demonstrators broke through police barricades placed in front of the National Museum to reach the intersection, where they held their sit-in this afternoon for about two hours.

At around 3:30pm, the protesters left Shahbagh and went towards Central Shaheed Minar, urging the government to accept their demands.

Shahbagh Zone Traffic AC Shakil said, "Around 1:30pm, members of the BDR victims' families gathered at Shahbagh intersection, halting vehicular movement."

Then, Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinator Mahin Sarkar came to the spot and expressed solidarity with the protesters. 

He said, "Dhaka University students have been with you since yesterday, participating in the programme. Today, classes and exams are going on at the university. We will not create any inconvenience for them. We will not go against the public sentiment. We have given the government a two-hour ultimatum.

"A more strict programme will be announced after two hours. During this time, if any unpleasant incident occurs, the government will have to take responsibility."

Yesterday (8 January), members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who were dismissed following the 2009 Pilkhana carnage, blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital 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 yesterday and demanded their release.