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| Bangladesh |
| Mutiny motive was to destabilise country |
| 2009-03-15 |
| Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan yesterday said the motive for the last month's carnage at BDR Pilkhana headquarters was to destabilise the country and hinder its progress under a democratic government. "They [mutiny plotters] thought the army would counter-attack in response to the BDR mass killings, and things would eventually lead to a civil war-like situation," he observed. Lately assigned to coordinate probes into the February 25-26 bloodbath, Faruk was speaking to reporters at Pilkhana after over three hours long meeting with the inquiry committees. The meeting that began at 12:45pm was the second of its kind. The minister said, "We have some evidence that several militant organisations had links to the bloody revolt." He however did not elaborate on the proofs. A couple of days back, he said Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) had a hand in the vicious killings of 74 people including 52 army officers on February 25. Meanwhile, 11 BDR personnel suspected of leading the carnage were sent to Dhaka Central Jail yesterday on completion of their remand in CID custody. They include Deputy Assistant Directors Tauhidul Alam and Abdur Rahim, havildar Azad Ali, nayek Mohammad Firoz Ahmed, sepoys Fasiur Rahman, Sirajul Islam, Emran, Shah Alam and Shahjahan, and cook Amirul Islam. COORDINATION MEET At the Pilkhana meeting, the commerce minister expressed satisfaction over progress in the work of the government, army and Criminal Investigation Department's probe bodies. He however stressed the need for more coordination between them. Sources said reorganising the paramilitary force under a new name was among the issues discussed. Replying to a query, Faruk Khan said those who cannot stand the existence of Bangladesh and its progress were involved in the BDR massacre. They want to render the country a failed state. He urged people to help arrest the border troops who have fled the headquarters with firearms and ammunition. Everyone having leads to the mutiny should report to the nearest police stations or army camps, he added. Queried how many jawans might be still at large, he replied, "Not many." The minister said investigators have made some significant progress through interrogation of those arrested in connection with the BDR killings. So far, 236 border guards have been arrested and 25 of them have been grilled while on remand, he continued. SCOTLAND YARD TEAM LEAVES The four-member Scotland Yard team that came to Dhaka on March 11 to help in investigations into the February carnage left the country yesterday. Faruk Khan said the British officials have pledged further assistance. TORAB QUIZZED Torab Ali, detained president of the BDR retirees' welfare association, have told interrogators that he had knowledge that there might be 'some kind of problem' at the Pilkhana headquarters on February 25, said sources in the Rapid Action Battalion. Zakir, a retired junior commanding officer's son, learned it from fellow students, mostly children of serving BDR men, at a coaching centre in Jhigatola. He in turn confided in Torab on February 24. Also president of Awami League (AL) ward No.48 unit and father of top criminal Liton alias Leather Liton, Torab is now on a five-day remand. He was arrested by Rab at his Moneswer Road house on March 10. Despite knowing beforehand that something untoward might take place, he did not inform the BDR authorities about it, said a source close to the investigation. Asked why he did not contact the authorities concerned as president of the welfare association, he told interrogators that he indeed "made a huge mistake by not doing so". |
| Posted by:Fred |