Monday, 15 December, 2025
By Faruk Ahmed
After 13 years, the interim government formed after the ousting of the Awami League (AL) regime has officially designated February 25 as National Martyred Army Day to commemorate the victims of the tragic 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny.
A gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday formalized the decision, stating that the day would not be observed as a public holiday.
This decision has brought a sense of vindication to the families of the BDR carnage victims, who believe their loved ones were lost to a conspiracy orchestrated by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her political allies.
On February 25, 2009, Bangladesh witnessed one of its darkest chapters when a deadly mutiny broke out at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka. The 33-hour-long carnage resulted in the brutal killing of 57 top-ranking army officers, alongside several soldiers, family members, and civilians.
In connection with the 2009 BDR mutiny, around 6,000 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel were detained. Of these, over 800 were sentenced to various punishments, including death penalties, life imprisonment, and other prison terms, following mass trials. The trials were widely criticized for alleged human rights violations, including reports of torture and custodial deaths.
While the AL government, led by Sheikh Hasina, framed the tragedy as an internal revolt over pay disparities, allegations persist that the mutiny was more than just a domestic uprising. Many believe that the massacre was orchestrated to weaken the Bangladesh Army, with some pointing fingers at the involvement of both the ruling AL government and external forces, including India.
From the outset, the events of the BDR massacre appeared highly coordinated. The scale of the killings, the targeting of specific military personnel, and the delay in an effective government response have fueled suspicions of a broader conspiracy. Critics argue that the mutiny was not a spontaneous revolt but a meticulously planned operation aimed at dismantling Bangladesh’s military leadership.
Several high-ranking army officials and analysts have questioned why the government was slow to react despite intelligence reports hinting at possible unrest within the BDR ranks. Sheikh Hasina’s administration opted for negotiations rather than an immediate military response, which many believe allowed the mutineers to gain control and execute their heinous crimes. It was only after the rebels had fled that law enforcement agencies launched operations, leading to mass arrests but failing to prevent the bloodbath.
One of the most controversial aspects of the massacre is the alleged involvement of the AL government. Many opposition leaders and military analysts argue that the AL administration deliberately ignored early warning signs and did not act decisively to prevent the mutiny. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other critics claim that the government's passive response facilitated the rebels in carrying out their atrocities.
Additionally, questions have been raised about the selection of certain officers for execution. The targeted killings of military personnel who had nationalist leanings or were perceived as obstacles to the AL's political agenda suggest a deeper conspiracy. Some reports claim that the massacre disproportionately affected officers who had served during the previous BNP-led government, further intensifying suspicions of political motives behind the mutiny.
Another explosive claim surrounding the BDR massacre is the alleged involvement of Indian intelligence agencies and military personnel. Some analysts point to the timing of the incident, which took place just months after Sheikh Hasina returned to power in early 2009. Many believe that India, which has historically maintained close ties with the AL, had strategic interests in weakening Bangladesh’s military establishment.
Several reports suggest that the mutiny was influenced or even directed by external forces, particularly RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), India’s external intelligence agency. According to some conspiracy theories, Indian operatives may have played a role in planning or facilitating the mutiny to eliminate key military officers who were seen as obstacles to closer Bangladesh-India military cooperation.
Further fueling these allegations, some witnesses claimed to have seen Indian soldiers near the Bangladesh-India border in the immediate aftermath of the mutiny, raising suspicions of their involvement. Additionally, critics argue that India benefited strategically from the massacre, as it significantly weakened Bangladesh’s military hierarchy and left the country more reliant on foreign security cooperation.
The AL government has consistently denied any involvement in the mutiny and has dismissed allegations of foreign interference as baseless conspiracy theories. The administration launched mass trials that saw thousands of BDR personnel arrested, with over 800 receiving various punishments, including the death penalty.
However, the trials have been criticized for their lack of transparency and fairness, with many human rights organizations condemning the treatment of the accused. Reports emerged of widespread torture and deaths in custody, leading some to believe that the trials were more about covering up the real perpetrators rather than delivering justice.
More than a decade later, the BDR massacre remains a deeply controversial and painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history. While the government maintains that the mutiny was an internal rebellion, numerous unanswered questions continue to fuel speculation about a greater conspiracy. The deaths of 57 senior army officers left a permanent scar on the nation, and many believe that without a truly independent investigation, the full truth may never be known.
For the families of the victims and the people of Bangladesh, justice remains elusive. As long as key questions about the AL government’s role and potential foreign involvement remain unanswered, suspicions will persist that the BDR massacre was not just a tragic mutiny but a premeditated assault on the sovereignty of Bangladesh’s military forces.
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By Faruk Ahmed
After 13 years, the interim government formed after the ousting of the Awami League (AL) regime has officially designated February 25 as National Martyred Army Day to commemorate the victims of the tragic 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny.
A gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday formalized the decision, stating that the day would not be observed as a public holiday.
This decision has brought a sense of vindication to the families of the BDR carnage victims, who believe their loved ones were lost to a conspiracy orchestrated by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her political allies.
On February 25, 2009, Bangladesh witnessed one of its darkest chapters when a deadly mutiny broke out at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka. The 33-hour-long carnage resulted in the brutal killing of 57 top-ranking army officers, alongside several soldiers, family members, and civilians.
In connection with the 2009 BDR mutiny, around 6,000 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel were detained. Of these, over 800 were sentenced to various punishments, including death penalties, life imprisonment, and other prison terms, following mass trials. The trials were widely criticized for alleged human rights violations, including reports of torture and custodial deaths.
While the AL government, led by Sheikh Hasina, framed the tragedy as an internal revolt over pay disparities, allegations persist that the mutiny was more than just a domestic uprising. Many believe that the massacre was orchestrated to weaken the Bangladesh Army, with some pointing fingers at the involvement of both the ruling AL government and external forces, including India.
From the outset, the events of the BDR massacre appeared highly coordinated. The scale of the killings, the targeting of specific military personnel, and the delay in an effective government response have fueled suspicions of a broader conspiracy. Critics argue that the mutiny was not a spontaneous revolt but a meticulously planned operation aimed at dismantling Bangladesh’s military leadership.
Several high-ranking army officials and analysts have questioned why the government was slow to react despite intelligence reports hinting at possible unrest within the BDR ranks. Sheikh Hasina’s administration opted for negotiations rather than an immediate military response, which many believe allowed the mutineers to gain control and execute their heinous crimes. It was only after the rebels had fled that law enforcement agencies launched operations, leading to mass arrests but failing to prevent the bloodbath.
One of the most controversial aspects of the massacre is the alleged involvement of the AL government. Many opposition leaders and military analysts argue that the AL administration deliberately ignored early warning signs and did not act decisively to prevent the mutiny. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other critics claim that the government's passive response facilitated the rebels in carrying out their atrocities.
Additionally, questions have been raised about the selection of certain officers for execution. The targeted killings of military personnel who had nationalist leanings or were perceived as obstacles to the AL's political agenda suggest a deeper conspiracy. Some reports claim that the massacre disproportionately affected officers who had served during the previous BNP-led government, further intensifying suspicions of political motives behind the mutiny.
Another explosive claim surrounding the BDR massacre is the alleged involvement of Indian intelligence agencies and military personnel. Some analysts point to the timing of the incident, which took place just months after Sheikh Hasina returned to power in early 2009. Many believe that India, which has historically maintained close ties with the AL, had strategic interests in weakening Bangladesh’s military establishment.
Several reports suggest that the mutiny was influenced or even directed by external forces, particularly RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), India’s external intelligence agency. According to some conspiracy theories, Indian operatives may have played a role in planning or facilitating the mutiny to eliminate key military officers who were seen as obstacles to closer Bangladesh-India military cooperation.
Further fueling these allegations, some witnesses claimed to have seen Indian soldiers near the Bangladesh-India border in the immediate aftermath of the mutiny, raising suspicions of their involvement. Additionally, critics argue that India benefited strategically from the massacre, as it significantly weakened Bangladesh’s military hierarchy and left the country more reliant on foreign security cooperation.
The AL government has consistently denied any involvement in the mutiny and has dismissed allegations of foreign interference as baseless conspiracy theories. The administration launched mass trials that saw thousands of BDR personnel arrested, with over 800 receiving various punishments, including the death penalty.
However, the trials have been criticized for their lack of transparency and fairness, with many human rights organizations condemning the treatment of the accused. Reports emerged of widespread torture and deaths in custody, leading some to believe that the trials were more about covering up the real perpetrators rather than delivering justice.
More than a decade later, the BDR massacre remains a deeply controversial and painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history. While the government maintains that the mutiny was an internal rebellion, numerous unanswered questions continue to fuel speculation about a greater conspiracy. The deaths of 57 senior army officers left a permanent scar on the nation, and many believe that without a truly independent investigation, the full truth may never be known.
For the families of the victims and the people of Bangladesh, justice remains elusive. As long as key questions about the AL government’s role and potential foreign involvement remain unanswered, suspicions will persist that the BDR massacre was not just a tragic mutiny but a premeditated assault on the sovereignty of Bangladesh’s military forces.
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