Homage paid to slain military officers of BDR carnage

  

DHAKA NEWS

The nation  on Saturday paid  homage  to the armyofficials  who were killed in the BDR (now BGB) carnage  at  its Peelkhana headquarters in the capital on this day three years ago.

At least 74 people including 57army officials deputed to paramilitary force were brutally killed bydisgruntled border guards during the mutiny on February 25-26 in 2009.

political leaders, ranking armypersonnel and relatives of the  slainmilitary officers paid respect to them by placing wreaths at theirmemorial  built at the Banani graveyardand offered munajat for the peace of the departed souls. Special prayers werealso offered at different mosques and also at Dhaka Cantonment and BGBheadquarters at Peelkhana for the salvation of their souls.

President's military secretaryMaj Gen Kazi Fakhruddin and the prime minister's assistant  militarysecretary Lt Col Monir placed wreaths at their Banani Memorial on their  behalf.

State Minister for Home ShamsulHaque Tuku,   the chiefs of threeservices and directorate general of Border Guard Bangladesh were among thosewho placed wreaths at their memorial and offered munajat.

Deputy leader of parliament SyedaSajeda Chowdhury, Jatiya party chief H.M. Ershad and BNP acting secretarygeneral Mirza Fakhrul lsam Alamgir placed wreaths at the memorial on behalf oftheir parties. Scores of leaders and activists of  several political parties and organizations also paid homage to them on the occasion.

The members of the bereavedfamilies  observed one minutesilence  at the memorial as a mark ofrespect to them.

Talking to newsmen  after attending a milad mahfil at  the Peelkhana BGB headquarters yesterday,state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku said several  culprits involved in the massacre have fledthe country to escape punishment. The government is trying its best to findthem out, he said.

Meanwhile, family members of theslain army officers have expressed frustration over the delay in trying theculprits and demanded that justice be delivered as quickly as possible.

After 17 months' investigation,the Criminal Investigation Department initially charged 824 BDR soldiers andcivilians for their involvement in the carnage.

 Another case was filed against 807 BDR personnel, who are alsoaccused in the carnage case.

A few months after the rebellion,special courts were set up to try 6,045 accused mutineers of 57 units of theerstwhile BDR across the country. Beginning on November 24, 2009, trial of3,036 mutineers of 51 units has been completed.

Of them, 2,959 BDR jawans weregiven different terms in prison ranging from three months to seven years. Thespecial courts acquitted the rest 77, who later rejoined the force.

At present, 2,932 allegedmutineers from different units in Peelkhana are being tried in five specialcourts.

"We are convinced that thetrial of the remaining mutiny cases will be completed by August thisyear," a top Border Guard Bangladesh official said wishing anonymity.