Dhaka: The 2009 BDR massacre was an outcome of a long conspiracy and involvement of the then political leadership was found in it, said National Independent Investigation Commission Chairman Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the commission has uncovered evidence pointing to the involvement of the political leadership at the time in the BDR carnage. Measures to divert the incident and destroy its elements were also identified by the commission, formed to re-investigate the tragic event.
Fazlur Rahman briefed the media about the progress of the investigation into the BDR carnage at BRICM’s new building in Science Laboratory in the capital. Reading out a written statement, he said the commission is currently reviewing information about the BDR massacre collected from various sources. The commission has interviewed 158 individuals and plans to interview 50 more.
The commission recorded statements from six family members of the martyrs and held two press conferences with them to gather their opinions and experiences. It interviewed 15 officers who survived the BDR carnage and sent letters to the Army Headquarters to obtain written statements from 50 more officers.
A total of eight political leaders have provided statements about the BDR carnage. Statements from three of them were taken in jails, three were conducted face-to-face, while two fugitive leaders gave statements via email. The commission also took statements from 55 military officers who held key positions during the BDR carnage, including chiefs of the army, navy, and air force, as well as various intelligence agencies.
Interviews were conducted with 20 civilians, including journalists, bureaucrats, and members of previous investigation committees. Additionally, the commission interviewed the then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner (DMP), and other police officials.
The commission interviewed 25 BDR men sentenced to jail terms, who provided descriptions of the incident and information about those involved in the carnage. Interviews with more individuals are ongoing. Statements were also recorded from 29 former BDR men who were released from jails.
Initiatives have been taken to gather information about the carnage from embassies of six countries and the United Nations (UN) residential coordinator’s office in Dhaka. Video footage, photographs, and CCTV recordings of the BDR massacre have been collected and are being reviewed and sent for forensic analysis.
The commission has gathered various pieces of evidence after visiting the Pilkhana Headquarters, the scene of the incident, and from officers of the DGFI and RAB. To collect information, the commission sent 316 letters with questionnaires to 25 government and non-government organizations. Responses to 19 questions have been received, with efforts ongoing to obtain answers to the remaining questions.
The main report of the court of inquiry of the Bangladesh Army has been reviewed. Interviews with concerned individuals have been conducted and further investigation is underway. The investigation report of the committee formed by the Home Ministry is being reviewed, and interviews with committee members have already been conducted.
The commission has collected 57 investigation reports from courts of inquiries conducted by various BDR units at the time. Efforts to gather information through communication with foreign embassies are ongoing and require additional time.