Previous committees probing the 2009 BDR mutiny and Pilkhana massacre deliberately destroyed evidence and attempted to shift the investigation's focus towards militant involvement, the National Independent Inquiry Commission said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference at the new building of the Science Laboratory in the capital, commission's chief Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman said the commission had obtained and analysed several reports from the army, home ministry of the time, and BDR units, which showed destruction of evidence and misdirection of the investigation.
Fazlur said the earlier probes had highlighted militant connections by pointing out that about 35% of BDR recruits came from madrasa backgrounds in the years leading up to the mutiny.
"But in truth, that figure was closer to 12%," he said.
Meanwhile, the commission has prepared a draft report based on testimonies, prior reports, and analysis of media coverage during the mutiny, which is currently under review, with more witness statements pending.
The commission has requested and received an extension until September to complete its final report.
Fazlur Rahman mentioned that some crucial testimonies are yet to be taken, and more than 50 individuals might need to be re-interviewed.
A commission team has reviewed all newspapers of that period, and relevant information has been archived in its Investigation Management System.
Some journalists allegedly enabled the mutineers to commit crimes under the guise of covering "Operation Dal-Bhat".
Seven such journalists have been questioned.
'Seems like a plan hatched abroad'
Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman also touched upon the possibility of foreign conspiracy, saying that while it had been ignored in the past, the current inquiry found indications of foreign involvement.
Though the commission has not yet revealed details, a member told Dhaka Stream that they are gathering information about foreign conspiracies.
"A new government [Awami League won the 2008 national election less than two months before the mutiny] had just taken office when such an orchestrated massacre happened — that doesn't seem coincidental. The involvement of numerous leaders from one political party also raises suspicion. This appears to be a long-term plan hatched abroad."
Furthermore, the commission noted that there were also inconsistencies in media reporting.
While Bangladeshi outlets couldn't confirm the death of then BDR DG Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, an Indian outlet did.
"There are signs of a foreign-trained killer group's involvement, although the evidence is still vague," the commission noted.
When directly asked about the killers, Fazlur said the matter is under active investigation and not yet ready for disclosure.
'Long-term conspiracy involved'
After reviewing testimonies and documents, the commission concluded that several political figures of the time were involved in the mutiny at various levels.
"It is increasingly evident that the killings at Pilkhana on 25-26 February 2009, were the result of a long-term conspiracy," the commission head said.
Asked to identify the politicians, he said over 50 witness testimonies were still pending and that a full list would be published after the investigation.
So far, all named political figures are from various tiers of the ruling Awami League.
On the role of the armed forces and law enforcement, Fazlur said: "Despite repeated pleas from trapped officers and their families from inside Pilkhana from the morning of 25 February, no action was taken. The government delayed in the name of political resolution, and as a result, the mutineers carried out the massacre without resistance."
The data so far shows the then-command of the armed forces and law enforcement failed to act timely and decisively, and the intelligence agencies showed extreme negligence and failure in their duties.
14, including Hasina, didn't respond to commission's summons
The commission had summoned 16 people to testify, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Of them, only Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Ghulam Azam responded — via email.
On 19 June, the commission issued a third public notice requesting their attendance.
"We are also reaching out to embassies through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"If responses come through, we will record these important testimonies soon," said Fazlur Rahman.
The 16 individuals include:
- Former PM Sheikh Hasina
- Former security advisor Maj. Gen. (Retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddiq
- Former Dhaka South City Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh
- Former MP of Gopalganj-2 Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim
- Former MP of Dhaka-13 Jahangir Kabir Nanak
- Former MP of Dhaka-8 A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim
- Former RAB DG Hasan Mahmud Khandkar
- Former Additional IGP Monirul Islam
- Former MP of Netrakona-5 Waresat Hossain Belal
- Former MP of Chattogram-8 Nurul Islam BSc
- Former Ward Commissioner Suraiya Begum
- Liton aka Leather Liton
- Former Additional Secretary and head of the 2009 National Investigation Committee Anisuzzaman Khan
- Former NSI DG Maj. Gen. T.M. Zobaer
- Former Cabinet Secretary Abdul Aziz
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