Family members of the army officers killed in the Pilkhana BDR carnage have voiced frustration that the names of all individuals involved have yet to be made public.
They demanded that, along with releasing the full report, the government immediately initiate legal action against the perpetrators.
At a press conference titled Opinions of the Families of the Martyrs on the Publication of the BDR Inquiry Commission Report, held Monday at the RAOWA Club in the capital, relatives of the slain army officers made the remarks. They also expressed satisfaction that the national independent inquiry commission, formed by the interim government, has submitted its report to the chief adviser.
The families alleged that they faced various forms of social and online harassment for providing testimony during the inquiry and said they continue to live in insecurity.
The national independent inquiry commission—tasked by the interim government with investigating the brutal killings at Pilkhana—submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on November 30 at the state guesthouse Jamuna.
The commission prepared the report following an 11-month investigation into the carnage that unfolded on February 25–26, 2009, at the headquarters of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Speaking at the event, Dr. Fableeha Bushra, daughter of Lt. Colonel Lutfor Rahman Khan, said Commission Chief General Fazlur Rahman stated on Sunday that the report is not classified and will be made public. “The call of the martyrs’ families is that the process should not be delayed—urgent steps must be taken to send the report to the judiciary, impose legal measures such as travel bans on potential accused individuals, and publish the investigation report,” she said.
She added, “The loss of 74 lives, including 57 army officers, is not just a tragedy for one group of families—it is a national catastrophe. A conspiracy was carried out using a state security force funded by taxpayers’ money to undermine the country’s sovereignty. Every citizen has the right to know the truth.”
Saquib Rahman, son of Colonel Kudrat-E-Elahi, said: “The commission has clearly stated that there are some names they cannot reveal at this moment. We understand the reasoning to some extent. But we will not accept this being used as an excuse for indefinite delay. That is unacceptable to us.”
He added: “As soon as possible, arrest warrants must be issued against all individuals—military and civilian alike—and they must be apprehended. If the report is not made public, we fear that those named may slip beyond the reach of law.”
Rakin Ahmed Bhuiyan, son of Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of BDR during the carnage, warned, “If the traitors are not prosecuted, then the opportunity for another Pilkhana carnage will remain.”
Ashraful Alam Hannan, son of Subedar Major Nurul Islam, along with another victim’s family member, said: “After this report, not only the families of the martyrs—the entire nation will now be able to speak.”
