Attempts on to kill PM to foil war crimes trial

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam yesterday alleged that a quarter was engaged at present in efforts to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to foil the war crimes trial.
“They have already realised that only the prime minister can ensure the completion of the trial,” he said, asking Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members to remain alert to protect Sheikh Hasina in order to continue the war crimes trial.
He was addressing a reception accorded to 19 decorated freedom fighters of the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), now known as BGB, for their contributions to the 1971 Liberation War and a subedar major, Nurul Islam, who was killed during the 2009 BDR mutiny.
BGB hosted the reception at its Pilkhana Headquarters in the capital marking its 2nd founding anniversary and the BGB Day.
Tajul said the government decided to provide 119 decorated freedom fighters of the then EPR, or their families in the case of their absence, with Tk 2,000 per month as honorarium.
The family members of two Bir Shresthas of the then EPR—Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheik and Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf—also attended the programme and received crests from the state minister.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, Senior Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed and newly appointed BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed were present at the programme.
Scrapping the name of EPR after the Liberation War, the force emerged as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on March 3, 1972.
Authorities initiated a radical reorganization of the force after 74 people, including 57 army officers, were massacred at Pilkhana and a mutiny spread from the headquarters to other units across the country in February 25-26, 2009. Its name was then changed to BGB.