Staff Reporter :
The BNP-led 19-party alliance on Tuesday alleged that the government did not allow them to hold a programme organised in memory of the army officers, who were brutally killed in 2009 during a three-day day BDR mutiny at its Peelkhana headquarters in the city.
BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said it at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. The alliance wanted to hold a memorial programme in the Institution of Engineers in the city like previous years. On February 17, they lodged an application with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) seeking permission for the
programme, but to no purpose. He protested and condemned the negative attitude of the authorities. He criticised the government for holding inaugural session of the 12th Asia Cup on the ‘Peelkhana Tragedy Day’ being observed as ‘Mourning Day’.
President of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) Shafiul Alam Prodhan and chairman of Bangladesh Kalyan Party Major General (Retd) Syed Ibrahim Birpratik also attended the press conference, among others.
Meanwhile, Mirza Fakhrul at a separate programme demanded fresh and fair investigation into the Peelkhana carnage. Terming the trial of the BDR mutiny as a farce, he said, “The BDR massacre took place as part of a deep-rooted plot to make the country’s border unguarded. The trial of the heinous incident was not held properly. We demand a fair and neutral trial to identify the masterminds of the incident.”
He made the comments while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman following the release of BNP vice-chairman Sadek Hossain Khoka.
Mirza Fakhrul alleged that the masterminds of the incident have not been brought to justice and even they were not implicated in the ceases filed in this regard.
Describing the February 25 as a ‘Mourning Day’ for the nation, he said that the country’s independence was stake on this day in 2009. Those don’t believe in the country’s sovereignty, who were behind the incident, he added.
Meanwhile, BNP senior leaders placed wreaths at the grave of the martyred of Peelkhana tragedy at Banani in the city on behalf of the party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Mirza Fakhrul, standing committee members Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman and Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah were present at the time.
