Pilkhana Massacre: Tears of anger

Massacre took place during 25-26 February 2009, almost seven months from now!

During February 25-26 this year a large number of army officers were brutally murdered inside the Bangladesh Riffles headquarters while several female members were abused.

The most interesting part of the entire report, however is, they have endorsed the fact that should the army were allowed to storm into the headquarters of the border security forces, hours within the incident, lives of a large number of army officers could easily have been saved. But, it is well noted by all that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her several over enthusiastic leaders including Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mirza Azam were trying to buy time in the name of political settlement of the crisis, thus finally ending with a very sad and devastating result.

Right after the incident, a number of officers expressed their anger in presence of the Prime Minister at the Sena Kunja meeting. They demanded neutral and prompt investigation as well punishment of the culprits. But, since the publication of the first probe report, these is visibly no ´voice´ at all inside or outside the garrison of Bangladesh, except a few unmanaged comments by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] and others.

Government of Sheikh Hasina did not allow the members of armed forces and other law enforcing agencies to storm into the Bangladesh Riffles headquarters to rescue the army officers and their family members who were made hostage inside the headquarters of the border security guard by the ´renegade´ troops. Instead of allowing army crackdown, the government opted for ´political settlement´ of the situation and sent two of the junior leaders of the ruling party to negotiate with the mutineers. In the name of political negotiation, these junior leaders and later many other figures in the government spent almost 32 hours, thus giving opportunity to the mutineers in killing almost all the army officers who were held hostage inside the headquarters of the border security force and violated large number of female members of their families who were also held inside the BDR headquarters.

Such reluctance of the government naturally annoyed the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces.

Right after the bloody massacre at Bangladesh Riffles headquarters in Dhaka, a number of responsible ministers and leaders of the present government started making wild comments on anticipation terming Islamists as well as other elements liable for this tragic incident. But, champion of all in making statements were none but the one and only FARUK KHAN, the grand gala flop minister in the present government in Bangladesh. It is even rumored that, Faruk manages to be the minister despite series of failures because of his extra ordinary connection with someone in Florida. Whatever the fact may be, Faruk Khan made series of comments on the Pilkhana Massacre as well as probe report. It was even reported in the press that he was chosen as the top man to coordinate the 3 probe committees.

Bangladeshi and internation media were extremely critical on Faruk Khan´s mad comments on the massacre. Some were even predicting that this man might have finally jeopardized the whole investigation process.

And it turns true now! The present government has been extremely successful in almost killing the investigations into the Pilkhana massacre, ignored the plea of the family members of the martyrs as well, even continuing to punish several army officers, where reacted at the tragic and brutal murder of their fellow brother officers and humiliation of the family members of the army officers.

Many people claim that the Pilkhana Massacre was pre set by the rulers with a blue print of damaging Bangladesh´s border security forces, with the aim of turning Bangladesh ultimately into a sub-servient like some small nations in the region. Recent actions of the government centering Chittagong Hill Tract Area is another episode of anti-Bangladesh activities. There are many reasons for everyone to feel rather greatly concerned at many of the actions and ´enthusiasms´ of the present government in Bangladesh, which ultimately may put the very independence and sovereignty of the nation into jeopardy.

Now, let me get back to the Pilkhana Massacre. So far, it is evidently proved that there is no hope of real investigation into the matter. Rather, the government is now maintaining tight lip on making any comment on the tragic incident or the investiagtion process, although at early stages, investigators were almost competing in making such comments.

There is no move from the government yet in according homes for the family members of the martyred officers. While the ministers, MPs and political touts of the current government are busy in getting a piece of land for themselves in Dhaka, it is very unfornate that none of them are even caring to bring the issue of providing houses to the members of martyred army officers. There is also no sign of erecting a monument in the memory of those brave children of Bangladesh, who sacrificed their lives inside the BDR headquarters during February 25-26.

It was also reported in the media that, former army chief Moeen U Ahmed was reluctant in moving army towards the spot of massacre, by unnecessarily killing time. If this is a fact, surely, Moeen should be immediately brought under Court Martial. Not only Moeen, but anyone, be it a military man or a politician or a mighty members of any ´Untouchable Family´ in Bangladesh, none should be spared, who might have minimum hands behind the tragic massacre, and subsequent brutal murder of the army officers.

Family members, colleagues and friends of martyred officers are already leaving tears of anger at the attitude of the rulers towards the entire issue of Pilkhana Massacre. There is evidences that many of the potential ´Big Fishes´ are already spared or at least put out of focus, who´s involvement behind the BDR masdacre were quite prominently and reasonably predicted. People of Bangladesh surely know those names. But, in today´s Bangladesh, uttering a word against the ruling party, which contains bunch of thugs, hooligans and culprits, would be a great risk. Even many of the leading newspapers and journalists in Bangladesh are afraid of uttering any word about the failures and misdeeds of the present government. I do not want to term the present government as a fascist regime although, but it is no better than that!