Investigation commission on BDR carnage asks Hasina, Moeen, Aziz, 12 others to appear and testify

The National Independent Investigation Commission on the 2009 BDR carnage has issued a public notice requesting testimony from 15 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former army chiefs General Moeen U Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed, as part of its ongoing inquiry.

In an notice published today (8 March) in a national daily, the commission called on the listed individuals to provide their statements either in person or online.

The notice stated that legal measures would be taken against those who fail to cooperate.

The named individuals also include Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former prime minister's security adviser, Fazle Noor Taposh, former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former member of parliament, Gopalganj-2, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former member of parliament, Dhaka-13, Mirza Azam, former member of parliament, Jamalpur-3, and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former member of parliament, Dhaka-8. 

Additionally, it includes former security officials, Brig Gen (retd) Muhammad Shamsul Alam, former commander, 44th Rifle Battalion, Lt Gen (retd) Molla Fazle Akbar, former directorate general of Forces Intelligence, Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, former directorate general, RAB, Abdul Kahar Akond, former police officer, Nur Mohammad, former inspector general of police and Monirul Islam, former additional IGP.

Those willing to testify in person have been asked to contact the commission's office at the BRICM building in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, via phone or email to schedule an appointment. 

The notice said online testimony can also be arranged through video conference.

It requested the witnesses to confirm their preferred schedule within seven days of the notice's publication, as the commission aims to complete the testimony process by 31 March 2025.

The special notice was signed by the commission's chairman, Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman.

Notably, the interim government formed the seven-member independent commission in December last year to re-investigate the 2009 massacre at the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters, now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The attack resulted in the deaths of 74 people, including 57 army officers. The commission is required to submit its report to the government within three months, according to a Cabinet Division gazette notification issued on 24 December.

Additionally, the government has sent mass text messages via its official SMS portal, 'Govt Info,' seeking information related to the investigation from the public.