BDR Mutiny: Ex-PM Hasina, Taposh among 15 summoned to testify in 7 days

The National Independent Inquiry Commission has summoned former Awami League regime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 14 others to testify regarding the Pilkhana massacre killing 67 army officers. 

The commission issued a special notice on Saturday, requesting the individuals to appear in person at the commission's Dhanmondi office or provide testimony online within the next seven days.

According to the notice, the testimonies of these 15 individuals are deemed essential for the investigation into the massacre that occurred on February 25–26, 2009, at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Pilkhana. 

The individuals summoned include former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Major General (retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Fazle Noor Taposh, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Gopalganj-2 Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former MP for Dhaka-13 Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former MP for Jamalpur-3 Mirza Azam, former MP for Dhaka-8 AFM Bahauddin Nasim, then Commander of the 44 Rifle Battalion Brigadier General (retd.) Muhammad Shamsul Alam, former Director General of DGFI Lieutenant General (retd.) Molla Fazle Akbar, former Army Chiefs General (retd.) Moeen U Ahmed and General (retd.) Aziz Ahmed, former Director General of RAB Hassan Mahmood Khandaker, former CID officer and chief of investigation team Abdul Kahar Akand, former Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad, and former Additional Inspector General of Police Monirul Islam.

The notice outlined two options for providing testimony: appearing in person at the commission's office or participating online via video conference. Those willing to appear in person are requested to contact +8801714026808 or email commission@bdr-commission.org to schedule a time. The commission’s office is located at BIRDEM, New Building, 7th Floor, (Science Laboratory), Dr. Qudrat-E-Khuda Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205.

Testimonies can also be provided online by coordinating with the same phone number or email address to arrange a video conference session.

Due to time constraints, the commission aims to complete the testimony process by March 31. Consequently, the summoned individuals have been urged to submit their proposed schedules in writing to the commission within seven days of the notice's publication, either via phone call, email, or letter. 

The notice also warned that the commission would take necessary actions as per the law in case of non-cooperation from the summoned individuals.

Major General (retd.) A L M Fazlur Rahman, the chair of the National Independent Inquiry Commission formed by the interim government, stated on Saturday night that the commission seeks to hear from these 15 individuals for the sake of the investigation. 

He expressed hope that the summoned persons would respond using the communication channels mentioned in the notice.