Bangladesh:Gunfight at BDR headquarters

[leonblack08]

Meanwhile, government is going to remove Home Minister Sahara Khatun from her position soon, for her severe failure in properly handling the BDR Massacre issue. State Minister for Home Affairs, Sohel Taj will also be removed from his post.

There is also indication of change in the Foreign Ministry. Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud [Member of Parliament] may replace Dr. Dipu Moni. Barrister Mahmud is expected to be included in the cabinet soon.

Closing the door after thieves looted everything.Do you think Army forced the decisions?

Just as I read the news of AL leader arrest,another news came up.Our commerce minister blaming the JMB to be behind this.

 

[leonblack08]

40 BDR men found directly involved
Staff Correspondent

Investigators have found direct involvement of 40 members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) so far in the bloody massacre and looting inside the Pilkhana BDR Headquarters during the February 25-26 mutiny.

The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday handed over 12 out of those 40 border guards to Lalbagh Police Station in connection with the mutiny case filed with the police station, said a top law-enforcing official involved in the investigation of the case wishing anonymity.

Meanwhile, Pesh Imam of BDR central mosque Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman, a witness to the carnage in Pilkhana, died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday afternoon after he fell sick during interrogation.

Those who were found embroiled in the massacre are BDR Subeder Gofran Mallik, Havildar Rezaul Karim, Lance Nayek Gausul Azam, Lance Nayek Yusuf Ali, Sepoys Joyanta Kumar Sarkar, Zamir Ali, Abdul Latif, Sohrab Hossain, Ismail Hossain, Shariful Islam, Rafiqul Islam and Masudur Rahman.

The top law-enforcing official said they had recovered firearms and grenades looted from the BDR headquarters from the village homes of Rafiqul, Shariful and Yusuf.

He also said at least one of the captured BDR members admitted that they were present at Darbar on February 25 and he himself spread bullets on officers there and two of them confessed to having shot officers to death after chasing them down.

One of the arrestees used a vehicle to carry firearms to kill officers at Darbar from armouries inside the BDR headquarters, he said.

He added they had also detected the BDR jawan who had killed the wife of slain BDR director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed.

Rab Director General (DG) Hasan Mahmood Khandker at a press briefing at Rab headquarters, however, said, "After primary investigation it seemed 12 border guards took part in the bloodbath and other offences during the mutiny."

When asked about the involvement of Islamist militant outfits and the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) in the mutiny Rab DG averted the query and said the Islamist militants are now under complete control of the law-enforcement agencies.

The arrestees were paraded before the journalists at the press conference but journalists were barred from asking them any questions.

DEATH OF BDR CENTRAL MOSQUE PESH IMAM
Pesh Imam of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) central mosque Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman died at the DMCH yesterday afternoon.

He was admitted to the DMCH Tuesday evening following a cardiac arrest.

Rahman, 45, fell sick Tuesday afternoon when investigators interrogated him as a witness to the carnage at BDR headquarters, said his son Mohammad Naim.

He was then rushed to the DMCH and admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) where he died at about 3:00pm, hospital sources said.

His body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy.

Six mutineers on further remand

Our Court Correspondent reports: A Dhaka court yesterday placed six mutineers including Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Tauhidul Alam on a three-day fresh remand for interrogation in connection with the BDR mutiny case.

The court passed the order after Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the case, produced them before it with a five-day further remand prayer.

The other arrestees are DAD Abdur Rahim, Habilder Azad Ali, Nayek Mohammad Firoj Ahmed, Jawan Zakir Hossain and cook Amirul Islam.

Tauhid, Rahim, Azad, Firoz and Zakir were produced before the court after completion of their seven-day remand while Amir of a five-day remand in bulletproof vests and helmets with their hands cuffed behind their backs.

Eight other mutineers were earlier taken on remand on different terms and they were being quizzed about the carnage.

Moreover, 52 BDR mutineers were shown arrested yesterday in the same case.

A total of 161 mutineers arrested so far from different places were also shown arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, Rab members held nine BDR men from BDR Training Centre at Baitul Ijjat under Satkania in Chittagong Monday night in connection with the mutiny, reports our staff correspondent from Chittagong. Rab did not disclose their names.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[HK-47]

Do you think Army forced the decisions?

could be.More like influenced.Or Hasina's scared of the senior generals now.They are pissed off.rebellions are supposed to be crushed,not negotiated as they are saying.

anyhow I personally believe that Dipu Moni is inadept in running her ministry. About Sahara I think we should give her some more time.We need someone strong in the Foreign Affairs Ministry and so far she has acted like a mere ambassador or messenger/communicator not like a minister.

It's true the way they mutilated Gulzar's body JMB can be behind this.But this could be done by some other group too to make it look like that.so still I will not jump to conclusions.

 

[Straight]

The Name Game of Politics

Note how the news is presented by The daily Star quoting UNB:
JMB linked to BDR massacre: Faruk

Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is linked to the BDR massacre, Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan said today. “We’ve so far identified some persons in the BDR who are associated with the JMB,” he said, based on feedback from the investigators, UNB adds.
--------------------------------------------------------
Faruk himself was found as the source of the news (...to be associated) but not mentioning that JMB is behind.... or similar outburst---- as found in all reports and news items (in UNB, the daily Star and Nayadiganta), and all quoted it from Faruk.

Did you also note that the strength of the headline, and actual statement of Faruk are not of same intensity or force or level.

Is it another jugglary of words by a politician to gain something at the expense of most-hated & severely diminished JMB ? Nevertheless, it was essential because a BAL activist---father of Liton, a ruthless terrorist---has been nabbed by Investigation authority and that news was widely circulated. So, BAL needed badly a diversion. Best scapegoat is JMB---a pathetic looser and having none around to defend.

I enquired of more than 50 scholars (alims and muftis) of Islam, and none supported the 'Jihad' activities of JMB as truly Islamic. Jihad---in Islam---is a wide term, and are divided into 2 categories: Major and Minor.

The major Jihad is to strive for own rectification fighting own lust and 'bad' traits & desires. Minor Jihad---that involves 'kill & if necessary, get killed' is a collective 'amal' (act) which require to fulfil several terms & conditions to start in the first place, and then more 'terms & conditions' to execute & continue. Our beloved Rassol (aliahe salat wassalam) had to wait almost 13 years in Makkah and then about 17 months in Medina to get met those 'terms & conditions' to start Jihad that involves 'qital' (killing)---like one is to wait for the first moon of Ramadhan to start fasting. In case of Ramadhan fasting, the condition is based on celestial event whereas for Jihad (minor) the terms are mostly personal attributes of individual muslim and also of their society.

JMB started it on a whim without regard for necessary terms & conditions---misguiding selected 'highly committed & dedicated Grade A youths (in the name of Islam) who have no or very shallow knowledge of Islam---and thus burnt all involved out, and therefore could not sustain. Even many parents denied to take back any responsibility for or even the dead-body of JMB cadres---because their acts were 'pure' killing and were not supported by 'alims' or the society of Bangladesh.

In initial days of Jihad, Rassol aliahe salat wassalam asked his comapnions (sahabis) to return the bounties---as earned from a jihad expedition---because he found that atleast one condition was not fulfilled: Before starting Jihad (the minor) one must explain Iman & Islam to the other party. In case they refute and attack---in retaliation Jihad starts; that is another important condition. If they refute to accept Islam but do not attack---rather agrees to pay yearly tributes (which has to be very reasonable as not to disturb their standard of normal & reasonable living)---muslim can not start 'jihad', otherwise it will become 'crime' and punishable under Islam---never a worship to please Allah.

Now, JMB is the most-hated and severly diminshed entity---visibly with no 'crores of taka' wealth (which they were never reported to have anyway), and no reported 'foreign connection' (as HujI has), no worthy leader or planning cell---with no strength whatsoever to act as 'under-the-screen-hand behind this historical mammoth BDR carnage. JMB has only its foul reminiscense involving only memory of horrendous killing, valor of its dedicated cadres, and sorrow for the wastage of such committed-but-misguided sons of this wretched soil.

Only utility of JMB perhaps which was left behind is to use this infamous name whenever you need badly to hide name of someother dear & near to you.

Post script:

Please comment upon comparing
(1) Faruk’s statement on JMB linkage with BDR mutiny; and
(2) the 2 points from the brief below:

BANGLADESH OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE MONITOR
South Asia Brief : 12 March 2009
• At least four of the mutineers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are believed to have been active members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) before they joined the paramilitary force. They all hail from Bagmara of Rajshahi, the stronghold of the Islamist militant outfit JMB, where extremists led by JMB's former operation commander Bangla Bhai, later executed, launched their atrocities. Anwar, one of the four was well-known cadre of Bangla Bhai. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Awami League (AL) leader Yasin in 2004 in Bagmara. A team of the 'operation rebel hunt' has recently raided houses of Anwar, Ismail, Kawsar and Aftab but in vain. The four were present at Pilkhana during the mutiny before they fled and they are still on the lam, said officers engaged in the 'operation rebel hunt'.
• Rab Director General (DG) Hasan Mahmood Khandker at a press briefing at Rab headquarters, however, said, "After primary investigation it seemed 12 border guards took part in the bloodbath and other offences during the mutiny." When asked about the involvement of Islamist militant outfits and the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) in the mutiny Rab DG averted the query and said the Islamist militants are now under complete control of the law-enforcement agencies. The arrestees were paraded before the journalists at the press conference but journalists were barred from asking them any questions.

 

[Straight]

FARUK (of BAL) AND IO (of BDR mutiny investigating CID Team) ARE IN MISMATCH GEARS:Is co-ordinator himself dis-co-ordinating ?
His greatest service to JMB by making this appear HERO from ZERO to more mis-guidable youths of Bangladesh in stead of letting JMB die a natural death.

See bdnews24 @ 12-3-09 report:

Dhaka, March 12 (bdnews24.com) – Law-enforcers had arrested 236 BDR personnel in the BDR mutiny up to Thursday, said the CID investigation officer.

They had already gathered information and evidence against the accused, ASP Abdul Qahhar Akhand of the CID told reporters.

More would come, he said.

"Investigations are ongoing. We are recording of witness statements and questioning the arrestees. Names of the new accused are coming in," said Qahhar.

Akhand (ASP Abdul Qahhar Akhand ) also said visiting FBI and Scotland Yard teams were discussing the case with the CID.

He refused to comment on Thursday morning's statement by minister Faruq Khan—who has been tasked with coordinating all the investigations—that militants links had been uncovered.

"What he said, I cannot say. I can only say my part. I cannot say anything about this. I actually have nothing to say on top of the minister's words."

 

[BanglaBhoot]

JMB’s link found in Pilkhana carnage: Faruk Khan

The Chief coordinator of all three investigation teams and Commerce Minister Colonel (retd) Faruk Khan yesterday told the press that link of militant outfits like Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been found in the preliminary investigation.

"Some links of JMB have been found in the BDR Headquarters' incident. During the BNP-Jamaat regime, the members of militant outfits had been recruited in the forces. With their help, the heinous incident occurred inside the BDR Headquarters on February 25-26," the Commerce Minister observed.

He earlier told reporters that the investigators had so far identified 30-35 people involved in last month's carnage in BDR headquarters and some of them had confessed to their involvement with the incident.

However, DG of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday at a press conference disagreed with the links of JMB in the incident as he told the newsmen while answering a question that JBM is now under the control of law enforcers.

leading news

Clearly there is a contradiction with the RAB saying one thing and Col. Faruk Khan saying something else. I believe that Col. Faruk Khan is lying to protect the AL and India from accusation. No one in Bangladesh will believe him.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Col. Faruk Khan should be ashamed of himself being an ex-army man. He is lying over the dead bodies of his fellow officers. What an utter disgrace!

 

[BanglaBhoot]

2 Gens retired, new 9 Div GOC named

Dhaka Mar 12 (bdnews24.com)—Two of the army's most senior generals have been ordered into retirement, and the GOC of the crucial 9 Infantry Division based in Savar replaced.

A highly-placed source said Thursday that Lt Gen Aminul Karim, the commandant of the National Defence College, and Maj Gen Fatmi Ahmed Rumi, chairman of BIISS, would leave the army with immediate effect.

The order, according to the source, was dated Wednesday.

Maj Gen Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, now head of the Staff College, returned to command troops again as he replaced Maj Gen Ashab Uddin as the Savar area commander. The two generals swapped their positions.

Gen Aminul Karim, a cadet of the second Short Service Commission that passed out in 1975, was made a three-star general only last year and sent to run the NDC.

A former GOC of the 9 Infantry Division, he had served as the military secretary to president Iajuddin Ahmed before becoming the NDC chief.

Gen Rumi, a former head of the DGFI during the second BNP government, commanded the Rangpur-based division for two years before recently becoming the titular head of the government think tank, Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies. Rumi was a cadet of the 4th SSC.

Maj Gen Ashab Uddin, of the Bangladesh army's first regular batch, was promoted to the two-star rank and made GOC of the 9 Division in the early months of the emergency government.

Gen Bhuiyan, of the 3rd SSC, had commanded two divisions and been the army's chief of general staff before his assignment at the Mirpur-based Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC).

2 Gens retired, new 9 Div GOC named :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Massacre at Pilkhana: Propaganda and the Truth

Thursday March 12 2009 19:08:01 PM BDT

By MBI Munshi , Bangladesh

I have also read the Muhit Rahman article (The Daily Star – March 12, 2009) and it makes some interesting points. The most interesting is that while describing other commentators as mere arm-chair Generals he is himself only a banker. I wonder how much military knowledge and tactical experience is required to get a bank job these days. The follow-up article by Mr. Abdul Momen raises some further and important issues. He explains that in all the cases where military assaults have been allowed by the government in a hostage type situation there have usually been significant civilian casualties. He provides the examples of Lal Masjid, Kargil, Mumbai, Wako, the Russian Threatre and the Ossetia-Alania School takeovers. In all these cases probably the Kargil is the least relevant as this involved a military operation of two countries and the issue of hostages never arose. In all the other scenarios the taking of hostages was an important element in the plan of the terrorists. However, there are other substantive differences between the above cited cases and the BDR Mutiny –

1. The commitment and morale of the BDR mutineers was questionable with the vast majority trying to escape and a small minority perpetrating the atrocities. If the army had been allowed to effectively cordon off the area and move in heavy weaponry outside the boundary walls it is possible that the mutiny would have folded early on - according to several eyewitnesses the killings only took place after 11 am on the first day of the revolt. It is also possible that the BDR soldiers would have turned on the hard core group but this theory was not tested because of the hesitancy of the PM and COAS to act in a timely and prompt fashion.

2. The BDR mutiny was strictly not a hostage type situation. The intent was to kill the officers within the compound. There were apparently no negotiations for release of the officers or their families. There was no sign of goodwill on the part of the hardcore mutineers to release the women and children. Inexplicably in this situation the PM gave a general amnesty without securing release of the captives inside the compound or verifying the extent of the carnage inside the BDR HQ. In these circumstances an immediate response may have saved lives. Only once the mutiny was nearing its end with the majority of perpetrators having already escaped were some officers released but clearly this was a ruse (indicating a wider and more sophisticated conspiracy) and not part of a negotiating strategy.

3. In all the other incidents terrorists had to be forcibly dislodged when negotiations failed. In the BDR mutiny the perpetrators had no intention of holding out within the compound as nearly all escaped during the second night. This point was proven when tanks were brought into position on the 3rd day and the left-over mutineers submitted meekly. If a forced entry was considered then the surrounding area would have been evacuated (as was actually done on the last day) leaving the risk to civilians at a complete minimum.

4. That amongst the BDR soldiers were ‘outsiders’ who hid their faces throughout the mutiny and ultimately escaped. In none of the other situations described by Muhit or Momen were there any external groups within the hostage takers. With sufficient pressure and a show of force the BDR soldiers may have been convinced that continuing with the mutiny was not worth the trouble and surrendering was now the only viable option. The ‘outsiders’ numbering no more than 20 would have been left to their own devices.

In all the other cases there was no indication of government complicity. The arrest of an AL leader seems to suggest some connivance at higher levels of government if not outright assistance. The transfer of army officers out of the DGFI and NSI in the preceding weeks of the mutiny explains some of the intelligence failures but still requires an explanation from the government.

On these four grounds I do not believe that the points expressed by Mr. Muhit Rahman or Mr. Abdul Momen hold much credibility or substance. During the 3 day mutiny the resolve of the mutineers was never tested. Every time the army wanted to move against the mutineers they were thwarted by the worthless and cowardly COAS and the perverse and mentally imbalanced Prime Minister. By not acting with courage and decisiveness the mutineers gained confidence and proceeded on their killing spree.

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=251718

 

[ejaz007]

Bangladesh says militants behind last month’s mutiny

* Authorities say ban on video-sharing websites including YouTube lifted

DHAKA: Bangladesh said on Thursday that suspected militants helped carry out the bloody mutiny at a military base in the capital that has threatened the new civilian government’s hold on power.

More than 70 people died when troops at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters turned on their commanding officers last month, slaughtering at least 56 of them and dumping their bodies in shallow graves and sewers.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan told AFP that investigators believed militants associated with the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) extremist group were involved.

“We are in the process of interrogating the 40 or so people we have arrested. We have found in the process of examining their files that some of them have links to the JMB,” he said.

“The suspects were BDR troops. We are asking why these kinds of people were recruited to the BDR.” The soldiers initially said they were protesting over pay and conditions, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that a force trying to overthrow democracy was to blame.

Hasina came to power after winning the December 29 elections, which restored democratic rule in the country after two years of an army-backed regime.

On March 1, authorities issued warrants to arrest 1,000 people it believed were involved in last month’s mutiny, but Khan said that figure had been largely symbolic.

“There are a number of figures we have not been able to finalise yet, including the exact death toll, how many people were involved, and how many ran away,” Khan said, adding that many weapons were missing from the BDR base.

A government investigation team coordinated by Khan is due to report its findings on March 19.

The army has launched its own probe, in a move which analysts have said exposed deep tensions between the military and the elected leaders.

Officers from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Britain’s Metropolitan Police service are in Dhaka to assist with investigating the mutiny case.

Ban lifted: Bangladeshi authorities said on Thursday they had lifted a ban on video-sharing websites, including YouTube that was imposed after the sites hosted a recording of an angry dispute between the premier and army officers.

In the leaked conversation, the military bosses were heard yelling at the premier over her handling of the mutiny. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[idune]

Col. Faruk Khan should be ashamed of himself being an ex-army man. He is lying over the dead bodies of his fellow officers. What an utter disgrace!

As soon Awami leader was arrested Faruk Khan trying to divert attention by using propaganda. But even with propaganda Awami League has problem. Awami league top leader Mirza Azam is brother in law of ex JMB chief Abdur Rahman. There should be (but would not) through investigation Nanok and Azam role in BDR massacre.

 

[Dhaka_soul]

As soon Awami leader was arrested Faruk Khan trying to divert attention by using propaganda. But even with propaganda Awami League has problem. Awami league top leader Mirza Azam is brother in law of ex JMB chief Abdur Rahman. There should be (but would not) through investigation Nanok and Azam role in BDR massacre.

I can see Al-Qaida imprint in the whole operation.Sensational attack,rampant killing and mutilation of dead bodies are all hallmark of islamic millitants.Most likely Al-Qaida proxy JMB was involved.One more thing,most of the mutiners were recruited during BNP-JAMAT period.

Let's see,what FBI can find out in this regard.

 

[idune]

I can see Al-Qaida imprint in the whole operation.Sensational attack,rampant killing and mutilation of dead bodies are all hallmark of islamic millitants.Most likely Al-Qaida proxy JMB was involved.One more thing,most of the mutiners were recruited during BNP-JAMAT period.

Let's see,what FBI can find out in this regard.

Going by your thought one should ask why there were 300 some calls from BDR HQ cell tower to (and from) India within few hours of massacre?

That may explain how India is involved in running Al-Qaida operation.

While FBI is at it, they should arrange a rendition of Awami leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanok and Mirza Azam, brother in law of ex JMB chief, for gitmo (or whatever the latest arrangement would be) residency.

But while not reading Indian screen play or should call ploy,
BDR is a national defense institution NOT a political one. BDR members recruited all the time no matter who is in power.

 

[Dhaka_soul]

Going by your thought one should ask why there were 300 some calls from BDR HQ cell tower to (and from) India within few hours of massacre?

That may explain how India is involved in running Al-Qaida operation.

While FBI is at it, they should arrange a rendition of Awami leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanok and Mirza Azam, brother in law of ex JMB chief, for gitmo (or whatever the latest arrangement would be) residency.

But while not reading Indian screen play or should call ploy,
BDR is a national defense institution NOT a political one. BDR members recruited all the time no matter who is in power.

idune,do u have link from independent sources to varify the calls from from India(other than south asian sources)?

Why U can't think of Al-Qaida?I remember,during BNP-Jamat rein,they repeatedly mentioned that Bangla Bhai,JMB etc are mere speculations of media,nothing sort of these things exist.We all know now what's the truth is.We also know about Jane's Review and also FEER(Far East Economic Review) article about 10 truckload arms haul at Chittagong.I personally belive that there are links between this arms case,trials of Razakars and BDR mutiny.Don't forget,just before the mutiny,a special envoy of PAK PM Zardari came to Hasina requesting her for not to try war criminals and Razakars on court.

As far as FBI is concerned,it will invesitgate as things lead them to,not as you wish them to do.

 

[idune]

idune,do u have link from independent sources to varify the calls from from India(other than south asian sources)?

Why U can't think of Al-Qaida?I remember,during BNP-Jamat rein,they repeatedly mentioned that Bangla Bhai,JMB etc are mere speculations of media,nothing sort of these things exist.We all know now what's the truth is.We also know about Jane's Review and also FEER(Far East Economic Review) article about 10 truckload arms haul at Chittagong.I personally belive that there are links between this arms case,trials of Razakars and BDR mutiny.Don't forget,just before the mutiny,a special envoy of PAK PM Zardari came to Hasina requesting her for not to try war criminals and Razakars on court.

As far as FBI is concerned,it will invesitgate as things lead them to,not as you wish them to do.

News for 300 or so calls was from daily ittefaq and was posted in this thread. Go back and look through.

Pakistan could not accomodate hundreds of thousands of staranded Pakistani and you think they really care who Awami league and its chorots label as rakakar? People has more to think about their food, earnings and essentials than dancing with Awami seasonal political ploy.

With your line of arguments one can say Indian FM came with demand of transit, SA taskforce and what not. Since that has not materilized because of defense institution and popular opposition, India out to destroy BD defense. Credible information that came out of investiogation so far points to that direction.

As far as jane, FEER and other far fetched stories, those came from the direct script of now defunct "war on terror" aka crusade. As your thinking deeply entrenched and subscribed to those rejected scheme and view of neo cons (rejected even by mass in US, UK), there is not much to say other than what had been said by millions already. I am afraid your line of baseless and far fetched story line up only degrade the quality of discussion and information.