Dhaka Bureau: Today is Pilkhana Tragedy Day. On February 25 and 26, 2009, the wayward jawans of the then-Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) revolted in the name of getting their demands. During this time, they went on a hellish rampage in the BDR Headquarters Pilkhana, burning, looting, and brutally killing army officers.
57 army officers, including the then-director general, and 17 others, including women and children, were slaughtered in cold blood.Later, the name of the force was changed to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). BGB has implemented a number of programs to commemorate Pilkhana Massacre Day.
After the Pilkhana massacre, the convicts were sentenced to different terms in the trial by the force’s own law. On November 5, 2013, 152 people were sentenced to death by the lower court in the murder case, and 423 others were sentenced to various terms. On November 27, 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentence for 139 out of 152 people. Eight death sentences were commuted to life, and four were acquitted. The court upheld the sentences of 146 of the 160 people who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the lower court.
Two people died in prison while the appeal was pending in the High Court. Twelve accused were acquitted. Of the 69 people who were acquitted in the lower court, the state appealed, and 31 were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court. Apart from this, four people were sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment, and 34 people were acquitted.
Among the 850 accused in this case, the court sentenced 256 others to various terms of imprisonment. Among them, 182 people were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, eight people were sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment, four people were sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment, and 29 people were acquitted by the High Court. Many are punished with dismissal in departmental cases.
After the brutal massacre in 2009, the entire force was in disarray. However, efforts are still being made to forget the tainted history and wounds through the process of force reorganization.Every year on February 25th and 26th, various programs are held by the BGB and the army to commemorate those killed by the rebels.
Today’s program: On Pilkhana massacre day, martyrs will be remembered with deep respect. According to the program of the day, prayers and milad mahfil have been organized by all the regions, institutions, sectors, and units, including the headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Pilkhana, to pray for the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs. To commemorate the day, BGB regimental flags will be flown at half-mast at all BGB installations, and all BGB members will wear black badges.
Apart from this, the Bangladesh Army will pay tribute to the deceased at Banani Military Cemetery at 9 a.m. The president’s representative, the prime minister’s representative, the home minister, the chiefs of the three forces, the senior secretary of the public security department of the ministry of home affairs, and the director general of the BGB will lay wreaths and pay tribute at the martyrs’ memorial.
