The 14th anniversary of the Pilkhana BDR massacre was observed with prayers on Saturday, seeking the salvation of the departed souls of the martyred army officers.
According to a BGB press release, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has organised a Quran recital, prayers, and milad mahfil to commemorate the day.
Later, the Home Minister, Army Chief, Acting Navy Chief and Assistant Navy Chief (Operations), Air Force Chief, Senior Secretary of Public Security Division under the Home Ministry and BGB Director General paid their tributes to the slain army officers.
They also observed a one-minute silence to show respect to the martyrs. Later, army personnel honoured the BDR mutiny victims with a salute. Later, prayers were offered for the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs.
At that time, senior officials of the Army, Navy and Air Force, JCOs, NCOs, members of the martyred families, close relatives, and media personnel were present.
Relatives of the victims and army officers also paid tribute to the martyrs by placing wreaths at their graves at Banani Military Graveyard. A sombre environment descended as the family members burst into tears.
Milad mahfil and special prayers were also held on Saturday in the central mosques of all cantonments in the presence of army personnel of all ranks seeking the salvation of the martyrs' souls.
All BGB members wore a black badge, and the BGB flag was hoisted at half-mast at the places where the BGB regimental flag is hoisted.
However, special prayers and milad mahfils were held at the Pilkhana BGB Central mosque, the Dhaka Sector mosque, and the Border Guard Hospital mosque, seeking the salvation of the departed souls of the Pilkhana tragedy martyrs.
Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, invited guests from the Ministry of Home Affairs, relatives of the martyrs, all officers, junior officers, soldiers of other ranks and civil officials working at BGB headquarters attended the special prayers and milad mahfils at Pilkhana BGB Central mosque.
Meanwhile, senior officials including the BGB Director General were present at the prayer and milad mahfil organised by the martyrs at the Mirpur DOHS Central Mosque.
On February 25 and 26, 2009, hundreds of Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) men rose up in armed revolt at Darbar Hall during the three-day ‘BDR Week’ inside the Pilkhana headquarters and killed 74 people, including 57 deputed army officers.
The mutiny finally ended on February 26 with the surrender of the firearms, ammunition and grenades through negotiation between the government and the BDR rebels. Following the mutiny, the paramilitary force was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
