BGB observes Martyrs’ Day
Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) is observing Martyrs’ Day with due respect, commemorating the army officers killed in the 2009 Pilkhana BDR mutiny.
The 10th anniversary of the carnage at Pilkhana BDR Headquarters in Dhaka is being observed on Monday.
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the carnage on this day in 2009.
BGB is organizing a Quran Khwani, doa, and milad mahfil—at all regions, sectors, institutions, and units, including at the Pilkhana headquarters on Monday.
Floral wreaths were placed at the graves of the slain army officers at Banani Military Graveyard in the morning on behalf of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The representatives of the president, prime minister, the home minister, chiefs of three Armed forces, public security secretary of the Home Ministry, and BGB director general placed floral wreaths at the Banani military graveyard, marking the 10th anniversary.
The president’s Military Secretary Maj Gen Md Sarwar Hossain, prime minister’s Military Secretary Major General Mia Md. Zainul Abedin, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral AMMM Aurangzeb Chowdhury and Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat were among many who paid their homage.
On Tuesday, a special prayer and milad mahfil will be held at the Pilkhana central mosque at 4:45pm seeking salvation for the departed souls of the Pilkhana tragedy martyrs.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will attend the milad mahfil as the chief guest. Home affairs secretary, BGB director general, relatives of the martyrs, and all officers of the BGB headquarters will also attend the program.
On February 25, 2009, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) men rose up in armed revolt at Darbar Hall during the three-day ‘BDR Week’ inside the Pilkhana headquarters and killed 74 people, including 57 army officers.
The mutiny finally ended the following day (Feb 26) with the surrender of the firearms, ammunition and grenades through negotiation between the government and the BDR rebels.
Following the mutiny, the paramilitary force was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
A total of 58 cases were filed—one for serious crimes, including murder and looting, and the rest for mutiny, in connection with the incident.
Some 152 people were sentenced to death and 423 others to different jail terms and 277 others acquitted in the country’s largest-ever killing