United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said they are all looking for answers as the national independent investigation commission formed to re-investigate the 2009 BDR massacre, is expected to finalise its report by June this year. “We are all looking for answers. The commission must succeed in investigating this incident. This mystery must be revealed,” he said adding that the entire nation is looking at the commission.  Dr Yunus said the government would extend required cooperation to the investigation commission. The members of the investigation commission met the Chief Adviser at the State guesthouse Jamuna and informed him about the progress of the investigation. The commission expressed its expectation that the investigation report will be finalised by June, stating that the investigation process into the BDR killing is going on in full swing, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Election without trial of killers to be questionable: Asif Nazrul   Commission chief Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman said they are contacting various parties and since the incident happened 16 years ago, there has been some delay in contacting many of them. Many of the accused are staying abroad and the commission is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inquire about them. "We have interviewed some of the people in prisons. Some 23 people who need to be contacted for the investigation are staying abroad," Rahman said of them, eight persons have contacted them for an interview. The commission chief said they are investigating the pattern of killings and torture and after the DG was killed, the rest were killed. “This was a planned murder. Such a murder cannot happen without a plan. We have to find out its roots,” he said. High-level delegation to visit US next week: Commerce Adviser Commission member Major General (retd) Jahangir Kabir Talukder said not a single officer or employee has been removed after such a heinous incident. “No one has been held responsible. This is the failure of the intelligence agency, the military and a political failure.” Members of the commission Brigadier General Md. Saidur Rahman, Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Dr. M. Akbar Ali, Md. Shariful Islam, Shahnewaz Khan Chandan, and ATKM Iqbal were present.

Speakers from "Justice for Comrades," a platform of retired army officers, have called for the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for various killings, including the killing of 57 army officers during the BDR mutiny, as well as cases of enforced disappearances that occurred under the previous government.Major (Retd) Shakil Newaz made this demand while reading a statement on behalf of the organization, during a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Tuesday.The platform also called for the reinstatement of 1,000 armed forces personnel who were dismissed during the last government's tenure. Army Chief urges new officers to face challenges with courageHe also said that a full investigation into the killings of army officers during the 2009 BDR mutiny remains incomplete and the real perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice.Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) filed false cases against some army officers and dismissed them from their job. They were sentenced to different terms in jail, he said.The statement further alleged that several senior officials, including Lieutenant Generals Mamun Khaled, Saif, Abedin and Mujib and Major Generals Ziaul Ahsan and Hamid were masterminds behind the “Aynaghar” incident. It also demanded to make them accountable. Army man killed over land dispute in SherpurMeanwhile, allegations of ‘enforced disappearance’ and killings have been brought against some top officials including former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed and former DB Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, it said.The platform also demanded to arrest them and ensure justice.