Peelkhana tragedy: Bangladeshi PM, President pay tribute to martyrs

Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have paid their deepest respects to the martyrs of the Peelkhana massacre in Dhaka. 

They paid their respects by placing wreaths at the graves of the martyrs at the military cemetery in Banani, capital Dhaka, around 11 am on Wednesday.

After paying their respects, the President and Prime Minister stood in silence for a while. At this time, a smart group of the armed forces gave the state salute to the martyrs. A mournful tune sounded on the bugle. 

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Air Chief Marshal Hassan Mahmud Khan were present at the time. Family members of the martyrs were also present.

On February 25 and 26, 2009, 74 people, including 57 army officers, were brutally killed by renegade members of the then BDR (now BGB) at the headquarters in Peelkhana, Dhaka. 

The High Court of Bangladesh has sentenced 139 BDR members to death, sentenced 185 to life imprisonment and acquitted 283 others in the case filed in connection with that infernal murder. However, the Explosives Control Act case is still pending in the trial court.

Reporter: Salim Reza