Bangladesh
Pilkhana Mutiny 12th anniversary of Pilkhana Mutiny observed
Dhaka, February 25: Today marks an era of infernal killings at the Peelkhana, the headquarters of the Bangladesh Border Security Force (BGB) (former BDR). On February 25, 2009, misguided rebel BDR soldiers brutally killed 74 people, including 57 army officers.
On this black day of history, Peelkhana is shaken by the roar of heavy weapons and bullets.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day Rifles Week on February 24, 2009. The annual Durbar will be held on February 25 at 9 am at the Peelkhana Darbar. The Durbar Hall was then full of BDR jawans, JCOs, NCOs and a large number of members from all over the country.
On the stage of the hall, the then BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed, Deputy Director General (DDG) Brigadier General MA Bari, officers of different units and members of various positions of BDR. According to the report of the government investigation committee, 2,560 people were present in the court on that day.
BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed was speaking in a joyous atmosphere after the start of the court. During the speech of the director general, at 9:28 am, two rebel soldiers entered the stage from behind the left side of the stage. Sepoy Moin pointed a gun barrel in front of the DG. Trembling with fear, the killer could not fire but the other jawans started firing randomly. The carnage began.
The sound of gunfire was coming from outside the Durbar Hall. After a while, the rebel soldiers, wearing red and green cloths and covering their noses and mouths, started firing around the Durbar Hall. They keep firing like rain.
They also took control of the arsenal. At around 10:30 am, the rebel soldiers lined up the officers from the court hall. As soon as the officers, led by the DG, set foot outside the Durbar Hall, they fired at the four DGs wearing yellow robes and helmets. A few more officers were killed after the DG. The misguided rebels became involved in the infernal massacre. Within moments, the revolt spread to other BDR battalions in the country.
Two cases, including one for murder and one under the Explosives Act, were filed in the incident. In the murder case, the lower court sentenced 152 BDR jawans to death, 162 to life imprisonment and 256 to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. As the allegations were not proved, 278 people were acquitted from the case.
