Army chief urges not to disrupt judicial process of Pilkhana trial

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman today urged everyone not to disrupt the judicial process of the Pilkhana massacre trial.

He made this call at an event at the RAOWA Club in Mohakhali, in remembrance of the army officers who died in the brutal killings at Pilkhana in 2009.

The army chief said, “One thing we must always remember, no army personnel were involved in this brutality. It was entirely carried out by the then-BDR members. Full stop. There is no ‘if’ or ‘but’ here. If we introduce ‘if’ and ‘but’ into this matter, the judicial proceedings that have been ongoing for so many years—with convicted individuals in prison for 16 to 17 years—will be disrupted.”

He also said, “We must keep this very clear in our mind. Do not undermine this judicial process. Those who have been punished deserved their punishment.”

The army chief further said, “The bottom line is that the gunfire from the then-BDR members took the lives of our brave army personnel. Yet, some of us continue to express differing opinions, attempting to divert the matter in another direction. This will not benefit us.”

Waker-Uz-Zaman said, “Today is a day of profound grief. On February 25, 2009, we lost 57 brilliant army officers–not just them, but also some of their family members. On my way here [the programme], I was looking at these pictures. Many of you have seen these images in photographs. But I have witnessed all of this firsthand. I am an eyewitness to this barbarity.”

General Waker added that a commission had investigated whether any political leaders were present or involved, or if any external forces were involved. “The commission chairman will reveal the findings and inform you all.”

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