‍‍`Justice for BDR‍‍`: Families of victim’s demand answers at Shaheed Minar

On Tuesday, February 11, a group of protestors gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, demanding justice for those affected by the 2009 Pilkhana massacre. 

The protest, organized by the BDR Welfare Council, focuses on six key demands that they say must be met before they stop their protest.

From early morning, families of BDR members who were either imprisoned or dismissed after the tragedy started arriving at the Shaheed Minar. 

The movement, which has been planned in advance, shows no signs of stopping until their demands are addressed.

The protesters want answers regarding who was behind the Pilkhana killings and are calling for the release and reinstatement of over 18,000 BDR members. 

They’ve made it clear that they won’t stop until they get justice for their loved ones.

Here are the six main demands that the protestors have raised:

1. They want 18 special courts set up inside and outside of Pilkhana to look into the cases of dismissed BDR members. These members should be reinstated, and they also want compensation and other state benefits for them.
2. They’re calling for the immediate release of BDR members who have been acquitted of murder charges or who have already served their sentences. Additionally, they want any malicious charges related to explosives to be dropped.
3. The protestors are asking for changes to the commission’s terms of reference. They want the removal of certain clauses that were not part of the original notification. They also want an independent investigation to free innocent BDR members who were wrongfully convicted.
4. They’re demanding justice for the killers of 57 army officers, 10 BDR members, and a total of 74 victims of the Pilkhana massacre. They also want an investigation into the cause of death of any BDR members who died in prison, with those responsible for any suspicious deaths facing punishment.
5. The protestors are asking the government to bring back the name of BDR, a force that represents Bangladesh’s proud history of independence and sovereignty.
6. Finally, they want the country to declare a national day to honor the martyrs of the Pilkhana massacre and ensure the safety of their families.

This ongoing protest at Shaheed Minar reflects the deep pain and unanswered questions that still linger about the tragic events at Pilkhana. 

The families of those affected are demanding justice, hoping that their voices will finally be heard.