BDR Massacre: Commission records 37 testimonies

The National Independent Investigation Commission, formed to re-investigate the 2009 BDR massacre, has so far recorded the testimonies of 37 individuals in 41 working days since December 24, regarding the incident.

Among the 37 individuals who have testified so far, there are three lieutenant generals, two major generals, five brigadier generals, four colonels, four lieutenant colonels, seven majors, two captains, seven BDR members, and three victims' family members.

Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, the commission chief and former director general of the then-BDR (now BGB), shared the developments at a press conference at the BRiCM building in the capital's Science Laboratory yesterday.

He said former army chief general (retired) Moeen U Ahmed is crucial for obtaining detailed information about the incident.

The commission has already sent letters to the foreign ministry to establish communication with certain foreign embassies to reach Moeen, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and others residing abroad, he said.

Fazlur said, "I cannot reveal the names of those embassies being contacted to bring back fugitives."

When asked about Moeen, who is now based in Florida in the US and has shared his version of the 2009 BDR mutiny in a YouTube video, Fazlur said the commission has its own objective to reinvestigate the incident.

Fazlur said requests have been made to the relevant authorities to impose restrictions on various individuals from leaving the country.

The commission chief said they have 90 working days to complete the investigation, with 41 days already elapsed.

He said that the commission has set five areas of focus. These include uncovering the true nature of the incident at Pilkhana, identifying those responsible for the killings and other crimes, including perpetrators, accomplices, conspirators, evidence destroyers, instigators, and individuals or organisations -- both domestic and foreign -- linked to the incident.

The commission also aims to identify those responsible for failing to prevent the massacre and other crimes.

Uncovering the truth about an event that occurred 16 years ago is a complex task, but the commission is progressing with a well-structured approach to gather all necessary evidence and establish the truth, he said.