Call for publishing complete Pilkhana killings report and those involved

Families of the army officers slain in the Pilkhana massacre say they feel encouraged after the National Independent Investigation Commission submitted its report to the chief adviser.

They urge the authorities to release the full report and immediately take legal action against those found responsible.

The commission handed the report to the chief adviser on Sunday, and later in the evening shared partial details. Discussions highlighted the names of several political figures and suggested international links.

On Monday morning, families of the victims spoke to the media at a press conference at the RAOWA Club in Dhaka, titled ‘Opinions of martyr families on release of BDR investigation commission report’.

They said they could not comment in full because the government has not yet published the complete findings.

Rakin Ahmed Bhuiyan, son of former BDR director general Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, accused Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating the massacre to prolong her authority and serve Indian interests. He claimed the deeper intention behind the killings was to warn any army officer perceived as opposing India.

He insisted on justice and demanded immediate action against those named in the report. He urged the government to punish “traitors”, warning that another Pilkhana could occur if accountability does not follow.

Fabliha Bushra, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Lutfor Rahman Khan, said the commission chief, Gen Fazlur Rahman, clarified that the report was not “classified” and would be made public.

The families call on the government to accelerate the legal procedure — including sending required documents to the judiciary, imposing travel bans on suspects, and releasing the full report.

She added that the killing of 74 people, including 57 army officers, is not merely a family tragedy but a national catastrophe. She said every citizen has the right to know the truth behind what she called a conspiracy that attacked the country’s sovereignty using a state force funded by taxpayers.

Barrister Sakib Rahman, son of Col Kudrat Elahi, said the commission acknowledged that it could not yet reveal some names. He expressed concern that this explanation might later become an excuse to indefinitely withhold key findings, which the families would not accept.

He demanded immediate arrest warrants for all individuals named — military and civilian — arguing that suspects might evade accountability if the report remains unpublished.

Ashraful Alam Hannan, son of Subedar Major Nurul Islam, praised the commission’s report as a turning point. He said the people of Bangladesh can now finally identify those behind the killings and no longer need to live in fear. He asked the government to publish the report online without delay.

Kazi Nazia Tabassum, daughter of Maj Kazi Mosaddeq Hossain, said the families endured 16 years of neglect, false empathy, and hollow assurances, and still struggle to trust who genuinely stands beside them.

Muhib Haque, son of Colonel Mujibul Haque, said defamation was used as a weapon against their families, against the nation, and against justice.

The commission submitted the report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday. Commission head Major General (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, along with other members, attended the handover.

Other members of the commission include Maj Gen Jahangir Kabir Talukder (retd), Brigadier Gen Sayeedur Rahman Bir Protik (retd), Joint Secretary (retd) Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, DIG (retd) M Akbar Ali, Dhaka University Associate Prof Shariful Islam, and Jagannath University Assistant Prof Shahnewaz Khan Chandan.