Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has urged all to refrain from disrupting the judicial process surrounding the Pilkhana massacre, emphasising that the heinous act was committed entirely by members of
the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
“One thing must always be remembered-this barbarity was not committed by any army personnel. It was entirely executed by then-members of the BDR. Full stop. There is no ‘if’ or ‘but’ here. If you introduce ‘ifs’ and ‘buts,’ the judicial process that has been ongoing for 16 or 17 years will be disrupted,” he said while addressing a commemoration ceremony at Helmet Hall of the RAOWA Club in Dhaka on Tuesday. The event was organized to pay tribute to the 57 slain army officers and their family members who lost their lives in the tragic events of February 25-26, 2009.
Describing February 25 as a painful day, General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated, “On this day in 2009, we lost 57 brilliant army officers, along with some of their family members. As I arrived here, I looked at their pictures. Many of you have seen these images in photos, but I have witnessed them firsthand. I am an eyewitness to this barbarity.”
He further addressed concerns about external influences and political involvement in the massacre, stating, “Whether any political leaders were involved or if any external forces played a role-this is being investigated by a commission. The chairman of the commission is here, and he will uncover the truth and inform you accordingly.”
The Army Chief firmly stated, “The bottom line is that our valiant army officers lost their lives to the bullets of then-BDR members. Yet, some of us continue to hold differing opinions and attempt to divert the matter in another direction. This will not be beneficial for us.”
Warning against internal conflicts, he said, “If we engage in mudslinging, infighting, and violence among ourselves, the country’s independence and sovereignty will be at risk.” He urged everyone to work together for national unity. “We may have differences in opinions and perspectives, but at the end of the day, we must stay united for the sake of the country. Only then can we ensure its development and proper direction. Otherwise, we will face further challenges. Believe me-we do not want to head in that direction.”
He also cautioned, “The disorder and chaos we see today are of our own making. This is our own manufactured crisis. If we continue such divisive actions, peace and stability will never prevail in the country. You must remember this.”
Issuing a strong warning, the Army Chief said, “I am cautioning you now, so don’t say later that I didn’t warn you. If you cannot set aside your differences and work together, if you engage in conflicts and violence, the nation’s independence and sovereignty will be at stake. I am making it clear today-do not later claim that I did not warn you.”
He emphasized, “This country belongs to all of us. We all want to live in peace and harmony. We do not want violence, conflict, and bloodshed.”
General Waker-Uz-Zaman acknowledged the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. “Today, police personnel are not functioning effectively. One major reason is that many have cases against them. Many are in jail. The RAB, BGB, DGFI, and NSI are in a state of panic.”
He highlighted that maintaining peace is not solely the army’s responsibility. “There are 200,000 police personnel, along with the BGB, RAB, and Ansar-VDP. My force consists of only 30,000 soldiers. With this limited number, how can we fill the massive void? Troops are constantly rotating between deployments and cantonments. Despite this, we are working day and night to maintain order.”
Expressing hope for an inclusive national election, the Army Chief stated, “We are moving toward a free, fair, and inclusive election. The government will support the necessary reforms to ensure this.”
He further mentioned, “Whenever I have spoken with Dr. Yunus, he has completely agreed with me that there should be a free, fair, and inclusive election within December. From the beginning, I have said that an election should be held within 18 months. I believe the government is moving in that direction. Dr. Yunus is working hard to keep the country united. We need to support him to ensure his success. Together, we will work toward this goal.”
The Army Chief also urged people to refrain from attacking the army with criticism. “I have noticed a growing animosity toward the army and the Army Chief from certain quarters. To this day, I have not found a reason for it.”
He stated, “We are the only force that continues to stand by you. Of course, the Navy and Air Force are also with us. We are all working together. So, please support us instead of attacking us. Motivate us, give us constructive advice-but do not attack us. We want to stay united and work toward the progress of the country and the nation.”
In conclusion, General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed gratitude to Colonel (Retd.) Mohammad Abdul Haque, Chairman of the RAOWA Club, for inviting him to the event.
“He has given me the opportunity to be here today and speak with you. I spoke openly from my heart today-things I had always held back. Some things cannot always be said, but today, I have said them.”
No ifs, No buts Officers were killed by BDR bullets
