০৩:১৯ পূর্বাহ্ন, শুক্রবার, ২৯ মার্চ ২০২৪

An era of painful memories of Peelkhana

বিজনেস জার্নাল প্রতিবেদক:
  • আপডেট: ০৮:৫৮:৩১ অপরাহ্ন, বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০২১
  • / ৪১৬৭ বার দেখা হয়েছে

February 25, 2009 The annual ‘Darbar’ was going on in Peelkhana. At the beginning, several then BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) jawans spoke against high-ranking army officers. The language of their speech was bitter. Want, equal rights as army officers. After that the then BDR Director General Major Shakil Ahmed spoke. However, the soldiers took the director general and other senior officials hostage inside the auditorium. Invoice shots. The beginning of a scandalous chapter in the history of Bangladesh called ‘BDR Rebellion’.

The sound of instant Peelkhana shots spread all over Bangladesh. He took refuge in the life of every Bengali in Peelkhana. Many sitting in front of the television set prayed, ‘O Allah, set our army members free, give them back alive’. But the ruthless soldiers killed 56 army members one by one. A total of 64 people lost their lives in the uprising that took place on 25 and 26 February.

Today marks one of the worst days in the history of Bangladesh. On this day 12 years ago, a brutal murder took place at the BDR (now BGB) headquarters in Peelkhana, Dhaka.

What happened that day

At around 9:27 am, a group of rebel soldiers entered the court hall during the BDR’s annual court. One of them pointed a gun at the chest of the then Director General (Shakil Ahmed). The beginning is the most brutal event in history. The rebels attacked the army officers with firearms. The soldiers killed the army officers and took the family hostage. The whole Peelkhana created a frightening situation. The insurgents took control of the four entrances and opened fire on the surrounding area.

They opened fire on army officers in and around the court hall. One by one, the army officers started firing at them. The revolt ended 36 hours after the incident. Peelkhana turned into a bloody desert. Later a mass grave was discovered inside the Peelkhana. The bodies of army officers were recovered from there. The 36-hour massacre killed 57 army officers, one soldier, the wives of two army officers, nine BGB members and five civilians.

The High Court has sentenced 139 people to death, 185 to life imprisonment and 200 to various terms of imprisonment in the much-discussed case (Peelkhana murder case).

This is known as the biggest case in the history of Bangladesh. After a long trial and verdict, the High Court issued the full verdict in the Peelkhana murder case on January 8, 2020.

Meanwhile, the BGB will hold a program on Thursday and Friday (February 25 and 26) in memory of those killed in the Peelkhana tragedy. BGB public relations officer. Shariful Islam told Dhaka Post that the martyrdom anniversary will be celebrated on Thursday in memory of the martyrs of the barbaric killings at Pilkhana. On this day, prayers and milad mahfils will be organized in all regions (regions), sectors, institutions and units including BGB headquarters for the recitation of Qur’an, in all mosques of BGB and at BOP level for the forgiveness of the souls of martyrs.

The President’s representative, Prime Minister’s representative, Home Minister, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces (jointly), Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry’s Public Security Department and the BGB Director General (together) will lay a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial at the Banani Military Cemetery on February 25 at 9 am.

According to the BGB, the BGB flag will be flown at half-mast at all the places where regimental flags are hoisted by Border Guard Bangladesh to mark the day and all BGB members will wear black badges.

After the Friday prayers on Friday (February 26), a special prayer and milad mahfil will be held at the central mosque in Pilkhana to seek forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will be present as the chief guest at the mahfil.

Cases and litigation

Two cases under the Murder and Explosives Act were registered in the capital’s Lalbagh police station on February 26, 2009. Later these cases were transferred to Newmarket police station. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police, after a long investigation in the murder case, first filed charges against 624 people, including 23 civilians. Later, the names of 26 more people were included in the supplementary charge sheet and the number of accused increased to 650. The CID also issued chargesheets against 80 people in cases filed under the Explosives Act. Later, 26 more people were charged and supplementary chargesheets were filed against a total of 634 people.

Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Dr. Alia Madrasa ground in the capital. Md. Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict in the notorious murder case on November 5, 2013. The verdict sentenced 152 people to death, 160 to life imprisonment, 256 to various terms (from three years to 18 years), 27 to acquittal and four to death during the trial.

After the court’s verdict was announced, the death reference went to the High Court. Besides, the accused also appealed against the sentence and jail at different times. The state appealed against the acquittal of 69 of them. The Supreme Court took special initiative to hear this important case. In December 2015, the then Chief Justice constituted a special bench to hear the death reference and appeal of the case. The hearing on the death reference and appeal in this case, the largest in the history of the country in terms of the number of accused, began in January 2015.

All those sentenced to death were members of the Bangladesh Border Security Force (then BDR). Former BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali are among those sentenced to life imprisonment. Among them, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu died of a heart attack on May 3, 2015 at Rajshahi Jail.

The High Court upheld the death sentence of 139 of the 152 convicts sentenced to death. At the same time, the death sentences of eight were reduced to life imprisonment and four were acquitted.

Besides, the High Court upheld the sentences of 146 out of 160 convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two of the accused died and 12 others were acquitted.

BDR restructuring and BGB formation

The mutiny in Peelkhana shattered the organizational structure of the BDR. The work of restructuring BDR started. The BDR’s name, dress, logo and organizational structure were changed. BDR was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Their laws are changed.

Source: Dhaka Post

 

Read more:

শেয়ার করুন

x
English Version

An era of painful memories of Peelkhana

আপডেট: ০৮:৫৮:৩১ অপরাহ্ন, বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০২১

February 25, 2009 The annual ‘Darbar’ was going on in Peelkhana. At the beginning, several then BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) jawans spoke against high-ranking army officers. The language of their speech was bitter. Want, equal rights as army officers. After that the then BDR Director General Major Shakil Ahmed spoke. However, the soldiers took the director general and other senior officials hostage inside the auditorium. Invoice shots. The beginning of a scandalous chapter in the history of Bangladesh called ‘BDR Rebellion’.

The sound of instant Peelkhana shots spread all over Bangladesh. He took refuge in the life of every Bengali in Peelkhana. Many sitting in front of the television set prayed, ‘O Allah, set our army members free, give them back alive’. But the ruthless soldiers killed 56 army members one by one. A total of 64 people lost their lives in the uprising that took place on 25 and 26 February.

Today marks one of the worst days in the history of Bangladesh. On this day 12 years ago, a brutal murder took place at the BDR (now BGB) headquarters in Peelkhana, Dhaka.

What happened that day

At around 9:27 am, a group of rebel soldiers entered the court hall during the BDR’s annual court. One of them pointed a gun at the chest of the then Director General (Shakil Ahmed). The beginning is the most brutal event in history. The rebels attacked the army officers with firearms. The soldiers killed the army officers and took the family hostage. The whole Peelkhana created a frightening situation. The insurgents took control of the four entrances and opened fire on the surrounding area.

They opened fire on army officers in and around the court hall. One by one, the army officers started firing at them. The revolt ended 36 hours after the incident. Peelkhana turned into a bloody desert. Later a mass grave was discovered inside the Peelkhana. The bodies of army officers were recovered from there. The 36-hour massacre killed 57 army officers, one soldier, the wives of two army officers, nine BGB members and five civilians.

The High Court has sentenced 139 people to death, 185 to life imprisonment and 200 to various terms of imprisonment in the much-discussed case (Peelkhana murder case).

This is known as the biggest case in the history of Bangladesh. After a long trial and verdict, the High Court issued the full verdict in the Peelkhana murder case on January 8, 2020.

Meanwhile, the BGB will hold a program on Thursday and Friday (February 25 and 26) in memory of those killed in the Peelkhana tragedy. BGB public relations officer. Shariful Islam told Dhaka Post that the martyrdom anniversary will be celebrated on Thursday in memory of the martyrs of the barbaric killings at Pilkhana. On this day, prayers and milad mahfils will be organized in all regions (regions), sectors, institutions and units including BGB headquarters for the recitation of Qur’an, in all mosques of BGB and at BOP level for the forgiveness of the souls of martyrs.

The President’s representative, Prime Minister’s representative, Home Minister, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces (jointly), Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry’s Public Security Department and the BGB Director General (together) will lay a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial at the Banani Military Cemetery on February 25 at 9 am.

According to the BGB, the BGB flag will be flown at half-mast at all the places where regimental flags are hoisted by Border Guard Bangladesh to mark the day and all BGB members will wear black badges.

After the Friday prayers on Friday (February 26), a special prayer and milad mahfil will be held at the central mosque in Pilkhana to seek forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will be present as the chief guest at the mahfil.

Cases and litigation

Two cases under the Murder and Explosives Act were registered in the capital’s Lalbagh police station on February 26, 2009. Later these cases were transferred to Newmarket police station. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police, after a long investigation in the murder case, first filed charges against 624 people, including 23 civilians. Later, the names of 26 more people were included in the supplementary charge sheet and the number of accused increased to 650. The CID also issued chargesheets against 80 people in cases filed under the Explosives Act. Later, 26 more people were charged and supplementary chargesheets were filed against a total of 634 people.

Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Dr. Alia Madrasa ground in the capital. Md. Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict in the notorious murder case on November 5, 2013. The verdict sentenced 152 people to death, 160 to life imprisonment, 256 to various terms (from three years to 18 years), 27 to acquittal and four to death during the trial.

After the court’s verdict was announced, the death reference went to the High Court. Besides, the accused also appealed against the sentence and jail at different times. The state appealed against the acquittal of 69 of them. The Supreme Court took special initiative to hear this important case. In December 2015, the then Chief Justice constituted a special bench to hear the death reference and appeal of the case. The hearing on the death reference and appeal in this case, the largest in the history of the country in terms of the number of accused, began in January 2015.

All those sentenced to death were members of the Bangladesh Border Security Force (then BDR). Former BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali are among those sentenced to life imprisonment. Among them, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu died of a heart attack on May 3, 2015 at Rajshahi Jail.

The High Court upheld the death sentence of 139 of the 152 convicts sentenced to death. At the same time, the death sentences of eight were reduced to life imprisonment and four were acquitted.

Besides, the High Court upheld the sentences of 146 out of 160 convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two of the accused died and 12 others were acquitted.

BDR restructuring and BGB formation

The mutiny in Peelkhana shattered the organizational structure of the BDR. The work of restructuring BDR started. The BDR’s name, dress, logo and organizational structure were changed. BDR was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Their laws are changed.

Source: Dhaka Post

 

Read more: