Dhaka, January 29 – Families of the victims of the 2009 BDR mutiny and surviving military officers have strongly opposed any demand for the release of convicted and sentenced BDR soldiers, stating that there is no justification for declaring them innocent. Speaking at a press conference held at the RAOWA Club in Mohakhali, Dhaka, they asserted that questioning the verdicts delivered by the BDR court is equivalent to questioning the integrity of the patriotic officers of the Bangladesh Army.

Dr. Fablilha Bushra, daughter of martyred Lieutenant Colonel Lutfar Rahman Khan, delivered the keynote address at the event. She emphasized that raising doubts about the BDR court’s sentencing is an attempt to undermine the sacrifice of the military officers and the credibility of the Bangladesh Army. “There is no scope to call the convicted and sentenced rogue soldiers innocent. Demanding their release is completely irrational. Therefore, we firmly demand the immediate implementation of the sentences handed down to the convicted criminals to uphold justice and remove the stain of this tragedy from the force. If proper justice is not ensured, it is not unlikely that such an incident may occur again in the future,” she stated.

She further pointed out that despite multiple investigations by various commissions—including the government-formed Anisuzzaman Inquiry Commission, the military’s internal probe, CID’s investigation, and BDR unit-level inquiries—the masterminds behind the mutiny were not exposed due to political reasons. However, all findings clearly established that the massacre on February 25-26 was carried out directly by the rebellious BDR soldiers. Based on substantial evidence and witness testimonies from both survivors and families of the victims, the convicted BDR soldiers were found guilty in both civil and BDR courts. She explained that while cases related to murder and illegal possession of firearms were tried in civil courts, the rebellion-related cases were handled under the BDR Ordinance with utmost transparency and adherence to due process.

The press conference highlighted that on the day of the massacre, there were approximately 5,000 BDR personnel inside Pilkhana, along with around 4,000 stored firearms. Within just half an hour, the mutineers raided the armory and seized all available weapons, which they then used to carry out the massacre. Bushra alleged that the mutiny was not limited to Pilkhana alone; it spread nationwide as rogue BDR soldiers incited similar revolts in various rifle battalions and training centers across the country.

Dr. Bushra also addressed concerns regarding legal representation, stating that the lawyers who have taken up the case of the convicted soldiers were only appointed after August 5, well after the initial legal proceedings. “Given the magnitude of this event, these newly appointed legal representatives require sufficient time to thoroughly understand the case details. The government must ensure that an adequate number of experienced legal professionals are appointed to continue handling the ongoing cases and take necessary steps to ensure that the real perpetrators are held accountable,” she urged.

She also expressed deep concern over recent attempts to mislead the public. “It is highly regrettable that for the past 15 years, neither the convicted BDR personnel nor their families have raised any demand regarding their innocence. However, now, suddenly, they are coming forward with completely illogical claims, attempting to mislead the nation and establish a culture of impunity. Their movement appears to be a deliberate effort to divert national attention, protect the real masterminds behind the massacre, and discredit the government of the people,” she alleged.

She warned that such efforts could damage the reputation of the Bangladesh Army and create unrest in the country. “This appears to be a calculated move to tarnish the image of the armed forces and mislead the younger generation. If the killers are not held accountable, similar tragic incidents could be repeated in the future, which we cannot afford to allow,” she cautioned.

The press conference was attended by several members of the families of the victims, including Advocate Sakib Rahman, son of martyred Colonel Kudrat Elahi, as well as multiple surviving military officers who witnessed the carnage firsthand.