Awami League top leaders who involved in Pilkhana killings will face trial: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that top leaders of Awami League involved in the brutal killings at the then BDR headquarters in Pilkhana in 2009 will be brought to justice.

He made the remarks while attending a views-exchange and iftar programme with family members of army officers martyred in the Pilkhana massacre at Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday, February 25.

The home minister said demands have been raised to publish the report of the independent and impartial investigation commission formed during the interim government. He noted that a probe committee, not a commission, was formed during the previous Awami League government after 2009, and its report was never made public.

"We promise, I will request the Prime Minister to consider the matter. The portions that need to be published from the Home Ministry can be arranged," he said. Describing the Pilkhana incident as no ordinary occurrence, he said the martyrs will be given due dignity and a review will be conducted on whether National Martyred Army Day can be upgraded from 'C' grade to 'A' grade.

Referring to relevant aspects of the investigation commission's report, the home minister claimed that the top leadership of Bangladesh Awami League was involved in the conspiracy. He said legal action must be taken against Awami League as a party for such anti-independence and anti-sovereignty activities.

Salahuddin Ahmed further alleged that some Awami League activists cooperated in implementing the conspirators' plans by taking out processions in support of the killers, supplying food and assisting their escape.