Nation mourns Army officers’ deaths
March 1, 2009
Nation has been mourning the gruesome killings of officers and civilians in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Headquarters with flags flying at half- mast since Friday. As part of a three-day nationwide mourning programme, national flags were at half-mast at the Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretariat, government offices and Bangladesh missions abroad on Saturday.
As a state programme, people paid their due respect to the slain 72 BDR officials – including BDR Chief Major General Shakil Ahmed and five civilians – who had to sacrificed their lives following Wednesday’s BDR revolt inside BDR’s Pilkhana Headquarters in the capital.
People was wearing black badges and holding milad mahfil at different areas seeking eternal peace of the deceased. Apart from the state-run media, all private televised media are also observing the three-day mourning programme. All Private TV channel has suspended airing advertisement programmes commemorating the unexpected deaths of Army officers.
Earlier, special prayers were offered for the dead on Friday, during Jumma prayers, in all cantonment mosques and at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Ruling Awami League held milad mahfil at its central Party office at the Bangabandhu Avenue yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile, key leaders of Awami League-led 14-party combine on Saturday expressed their deep shock and sorrow at the death of the commissioned army officers. During the meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence yesterday, they also prayed for the salvation for the departed souls terming the losses as irrepairable for the country. The national leaders also offered deep sympathies for the bereaved family member.
Urging a national unity at this crucial moment, they also lauded the time-befitting decision of the Prime Minister to face the rebels with firmness, wisdom and patience. About the opposition leader’s remarks on quicker intervention inside BDR headquarters, the 14-party leaders questioned, “What would be the fate of wives, children and relatives of the army officers and civilians, if we would have gone to action at that time?”
Meanwhile, the Probe Committee to investigate the BDR mutiny, led by Home Minister Sahara Khatun held its first meeting at the Secretariat yesterday morning and later the committee visited the scene at Pilkhana yesterday noon.
They saw the vandalism at the BDR Chief’s residence and some other places.
The Home Minister, while coming out from the BDR Headquarters, told waiting journalists that the enquiry committee started working and aimed to submit an initial report within seven days. During the visit newly appointed Director General of embattled BDR force Brigadier General Moinul Hossain accompanied the Home Minister.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
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