Bangladesh government influencing report of BDR Massacre
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
March 13, 2009
One of the most influential members of the ruling party as well as Commerce Minister in Bangladesh, Lieutenant Colonel [Retired] Faruk Khan told reporters on Thursday that there were hands of banned Islamist militancy group named Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh [JMB] behind the massacre, that took place inside the headquarters of Bangladesh Riffles [BDR] on February 25 & 26.
He said some of the border troops rounded up for alleged role in the bloody mutiny are found to have connections with JMB, the banned Islamist outfit responsible for terrorist attacks including the near-simultaneous countrywide blasts in 2005.
Faruk, who has lately been tasked with coordinating the probes into February 25-26 bloodbath at Pilkhana, was talking to reporters at his secretariat office around noon.
"We have gathered that a number of BDR jawans arrested in the mutiny case were involved in JMB somehow or other."
This comment from the top figure who has been assigned by the government to coordinate the investigation process is very significant. But at the same time, this comment will surely influence the investigation report, especially of those non-army bodies and more precisely of Criminal Investigation Department [which is controlled by the Home Ministry] in exclusively alleging JMB behind the entire massacre, thus excluding many of the potential culprits who belong to the ruling party as well the opposition quearters.
Yes, Faruk Khan´s statement is partially correct. There was JMB hand behind the massacre, possibly, otherwise, who Colonel Gulzar was killed in the most barbaric manner? Moreover, it is important to note that, Mirza Azam, brother-in-law of JMB kingpin Shaikh Abdur Rahman, who is a whip in the Parliament from the ruling party was evidently having some contact points inside the BDR headquarters, which let him and Jahangir Kabir Nanak in entering the massacred area right on February 25, 2009, when no one else [even members of the press or Red Cross Society] could even approach the area. But, this is only one fraction of the entire conspirators. For, example, Jahangir Kabir Nanak is not connected to JMB. Or, how about Awami League leaders like Abdul Jalil, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Liakat Sikder, Hassan Mahmud [now state minister for Foreign Affairs], Bahauddin Nasim, Sajeda Chowdhury [who is now deputy leader of the house], Jahangir Kabir Nanak or BNP leaders like Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Nasiruddin Pintu, Shah Abdhul Hannan, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Khandekar Delwar Hossain etc., who had been demanding ´stern action´ against army officers? Their body language in a number of television talk-shows were sufficiently vindictive.
Now, let us also examine some of the comments by the Commerce Minister, Lt. Colonel [Retired] Faruk Khan on the massacre:
He said, "Some links of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh [to the rebellion] have been found, it will be cleared once the investigation is completed."
Here is the question! If the matter is still under investigation, why the minister belonging to the ruling party felt extra-zealed in disclosing portional facts of the investigation? Just to give an impression that his party had no hands behind this notorious murders and brutalities?
Why Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam and the Home Minister Sahara Khatun should not be interrogated by the army investigation team as to why they allowed the 14-member team of the killers to enter the residence of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a close-door meeting without registering their names and designations in the register book? Who helped these men in keeping their identities suppressed?
Why the government sent Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mirza Azam to handle this extremely important case, while they had many other senior leaders like Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sen Gupta or even Syed Ashraful Islam? There are evidences that Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Azam were active during October 2006 broad-day-light murder of people on the streets of Dhaka in the name of political agitation. Some of the government leaders try to justify saying both Nanak and Azam were ´courageous peope´ and ´experienced in tacking such situation´. What kind of experience do they have? Experience to instigate and provoke?
The entire nation is willing to see a very neutral investigation into the murders and brutalities inside the BDR headquarters during February 25 and 26. Killers and conspirators, whoever they may be, should be brought into book and accorded stern punishment. Any influenced investigation will bring virtually no result in this case. Members of each of the investigation teams should remember this point for the sake of their own image and credibility. There is no room for anyone to show minimum sympathy to the killers and their instigators and patrons.
There is another bad news already by now centering the BDR massacre. A leader of the ruling party has already been arrested for his involvement behind this massacre. It is learnt that a significant volume of arms, ammunitions and grenades were already smuggled out of the BDR headquarters by the fleeing jawans of the Bangladesh Riffles. It is even reported that, some of the pro-ruling party terrorists are already possessing such arms, ammunitions and grenades and even some of them are already trading in such looted items. Investigators should also keep close-eyes on this matter.
And, finally a small scoop. A Captain of Bangladesh Army was murdered inside a residential hotel owned by an Awami League leader in the city. This murder mystery is yet to be unearthed by the members of the law enforcing agencies. Since February 25, 2009, we are witnessing death of several army officers in Bangladesh from BDR massacre to hotel murder to helicopter mystery. Each of the incidents should be properly investigated for the sake of independence and sovereignty of this nation. No one should be accorded minimum opportunity of playing foul with the patriotic members of our armed forces. This is a noble responsibility to each of the patriotic citizen of Bangladesh.
American Chronicle | Bangladesh government influencing report of BDR Massacre
