Families of martyrs of Peelkhana to go to International Crimes Tribunal
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Photo: Collected
Dhaka: Members of the martyrs' families are going to the International Crimes Tribunal to seek 'proper justice' for the brutal killings at the then BDR headquarters in the capital's Peelkhana on February 25 and 26, 2009.
Advocate Shakib Rahman, son of martyred Colonel Qudrat Elahi, has said that a complaint will be filed with the International Crimes Tribunal within the next two weeks to ensure the 'real' facts of the killings and the trial of the conspirators behind the scenes.
This demand was made at a press conference organized at the Rawa Hall in Mohakhali, Rawa Hall, on Thursday (November 28) afternoon, 'trial of the killing of 74 people including 57 officers in Peelkhana and demand for Martyrs' Day'.
Although the BDR mutiny case, which has been going on for almost 16 years, is in the Appellate Division, Shakib Rahman said that the latest situation is not known to the martyr's family members. He said, "We have not been contacted in any way during this long period of time during the case. My victims do not know the situation of the case, how will the people of the country know?" He said, "The conspirators behind the scenes of the BDR massacre were those who were in power during the last government. Our plan of action is to file a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal within the next two weeks. The current government has not even given us 5 minutes so far, we hope that the government will provide security to the martyr's families who will file a complaint now. Because the people we will complain against were in power during the last government." He also said, "We will complain against Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam. It is possible to bring Sheikh Hasina to justice according to the doctrine of command responsibility of international law." She, as the head of the Ministry of Defense, cannot avoid responsibility. We will also file a complaint against her. In addition, the then army officers, especially the DGFI officers, who were there we will also file a complaint against some journalists who created a false narrative at that time.
Rakin Ahmed Bhuiyan, son of the then BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed, said, the previous fascist government Awami League did not want the disappearances and murders to be tried. Since there is no obstacle now, the investigation into the murder of the BDR member should be completed quickly and those involved should be punished through the law.
Demanding that the day of the Pilkhana murder be declared as Martyrs' Day, he said, if those involved are punished, all the people of the country will stand by us. Specific measures should be taken for those who have been fired from their jobs for demanding justice for the murder.
Nahrin Ferdousi, wife of martyr Colonel Mojibul Haque, raised the demands on behalf of the martyr's family. She said, February 25 should be declared as 'Martyrs' Army Day' through the gazette.
Demanding a fresh investigation into the Peelkhana massacre for a fair trial, she said, "Let us be informed about the progress of the proposed inquiry commission. Let all the previous investigation reports be made public."
She demanded that the 57 slain soldiers be given the status of martyrs in the official gazette, that the Peelkhana tragedy be appropriately included in the syllabus of school textbooks, and that all the innocent people arrested be given justice quickly after completing the trial. At the same time, she demanded that all the innocent people arrested be given justice quickly after completing the trial.
Dr. Fauzia Rashid, wife of martyred Lt. Col. Kazi Robi Rahman, and his brother Kazi Oli Rahman, brother of martyred Colonel Ershad, Dr. Mamun, son of martyred Subedar Major Nurul Islam, Ashraful Alam Hannan, wife of martyred Colonel Kudrat Elahi, and Labi Rahman, among others, also spoke at the event.
