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BDR Mutiny Mystery Unfolds
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BDR mutiny on Feb 25, 2009 has turned out to be the outcome of a meticulously thought out conspiracy in which involvement of BNP, JEI and Pakistan is clearly discernible. Anis-uz-Zaman Committee stated that the mutiny was instigated by people “who do not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh”. Its preliminary report on the mutiny, while recommending further investigations to unmask the masterminds behind the incident, pointed out the involvement of former BNP MP Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu and former BNP Ward Commissioner Suraiya Begum and her two sons.
The report also took note that processions were brought out near the BDR HQ at Pilkhana on the fateful day in support of the BDR mutineers. It is now known that it was the JEI cadres who organized the processions to drive a wedge between the army and the BDR and also to boost the morale of the mutineers and incite them. The probe report also made a passing mention of the “High Commission” of a country for its involvement in it and Taka 15 crore pumped in for preparation of the mutiny.
As the intricacies of the mutiny gradually unfold, the involvement of BNP, JEI and Pakistan is becoming increasingly clear. Preliminary investigations of some of the rebels had earlier indicated the involvement of Salauddin Qader Chowdhury, BNP MP who is very close to Pak ISI and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. BDR DG Brig Gen Mainul Islam disclosed that video footage of the mutiny shows “outsiders wearing BDR uniform” taking part in killing, looting and plundering at the BDR HQ.
Salauddin Qader Chowdhury is known to patronize a large number of armed cadres and gangsters. Moreover, there is no dearth of such elements in JEI too. There is every reason to believe that it was these elements who were taking part in killing and looting, wearing BDR uniform. Deputy Assistant Director of BDR Towhid Alam who was at the forefront of the BDR mutiny and is presently in police custody has also confessed that outsiders were involved.
Mere disgruntlement over disparity in pay and service conditions could by no stretch of imagination explain the barbaric and gruesome manner in which some senior army officers and their wives were massacred, their dead bodies mutilated and dumped in sewer lines which are exactly what the Pakistani army did in 1971 along with their local collaborators including JEI.
A Bangladeshi security officer who is examining intercepts of telephonic conversations of the mutineers told the press that the conspiracy was planned at least two months in advance. This implies that the conspiracy was afoot even before the last general elections were held in Dec 2008 which brought the Awami League to power with a massive mandate. BNP and JEI along with their mentor Pakistan did anticipate that it would not be possible for them to return to power through democratic means as the Army-backed Caretaker Govt had made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair elections. It had also made its intentions clear in unequivocal terms by creating a level playing field and emphasizing that any kind of electoral malpractices would not be countenanced leniently. Hence the need for a conspiracy to come to power arose.
Media reports also reveal the presence of arms, ammunition and vehicles at the mutiny site pointing out that these did not belong to BDR. Reports also revealed that calls were made through satellite phones from Dubai to persons in Dhaka soon after outbreak of the mutiny.
Daily Janakantha reported the presence in Dubai of a “prince” (a reference to Tareq Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP and Khaleda Zia’s son who is presently undergoing medical treatment in UK) to monitor developments at Pilkhana on the fateful day. Even leaflets were circulated in anticipation in parts of Dhaka and other places to float rumours of a coup. According to the probe report, the mutiny was intended to create chaos and anarchy in the country and topple the Awami League Govt with the help of a “foreign state”.
It is now transpires that the mutiny had been planned by BNP and JEI in collusion with Pakistan to dislodge the Awami League Govt and bring the BNP-JEI alliance to power. Although reports of other investigating agencies are yet to come, available circumstantial evidence indicates involvement of Pakistan-BNP-JEI troika. It will not be out of place here to note that the Pakistan Govt sent a Special Envoy, Pervez Isphahani to Dhaka just 2 days before outbreak of the mutiny to persuade Sheik Hasina to abandon trial of 1971 war criminals.
Sheik Hasina with her overwhelming mandate in parliament is determined to go ahead with trial of the war criminals of 1971 and killers of her father Mujib and Awami League top leaders in 1975. JEI apprehends that the noose would soon tighten around the neck of the entire top leadership of the party for its role during the liberation war in 1971. Some senior BNP leaders like Salauddin Qader Chowdhury would also come under the dragnet for the same. Pakistan would also be affected as the preliminary list of war criminals compiled by the freedom fighters include names of 12 senior Pakistan army officers and the cases are likely to come up in International Criminal Court. Pakistan will have to face harassment and ignominy in such an event.
On the other hand, trial of “killer Majors” (a term used for Mujib killers) could lead to unmasking of many in Pakistan as well as Bangladesh. The role of Khaleda Zia’s husband Gen Ziaur Rahman (who was also killed in a similar coup later) in this regard is also not above board. Hasina has come out with her proposal for South Asian counter-terrorism force which has not gone down well with Pakistan as this will affect ISI’s anti-India operations presently being diverted through Bangladesh following international outcry over its role in inciting insurgency in Kashmir. Pak ISI has been working in close coordination with the pro-Pak Islamist lobbies and some elements of intelligence agencies and army in Bangladesh. Hasina has, however, started revamping these agencies.
Islamic fundamentalist elements and pro-Pak radical groups have always been wary of Hasina. Even though Pak ISI has shown its willingness to do business with her to protect its elaborate support structures in Bangladesh, Awami League and Hasina are viewed as enemies of Two-Nation theory propounded by Pakistan. Hasina too distrusts the pro-Pak radical Islamist elements. Hence she may like to convert this political challenge in to an advantage by reaching out to the ‘other’ world.
The report also took note that processions were brought out near the BDR HQ at Pilkhana on the fateful day in support of the BDR mutineers. It is now known that it was the JEI cadres who organized the processions to drive a wedge between the army and the BDR and also to boost the morale of the mutineers and incite them. The probe report also made a passing mention of the “High Commission” of a country for its involvement in it and Taka 15 crore pumped in for preparation of the mutiny.
As the intricacies of the mutiny gradually unfold, the involvement of BNP, JEI and Pakistan is becoming increasingly clear. Preliminary investigations of some of the rebels had earlier indicated the involvement of Salauddin Qader Chowdhury, BNP MP who is very close to Pak ISI and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. BDR DG Brig Gen Mainul Islam disclosed that video footage of the mutiny shows “outsiders wearing BDR uniform” taking part in killing, looting and plundering at the BDR HQ.
Salauddin Qader Chowdhury is known to patronize a large number of armed cadres and gangsters. Moreover, there is no dearth of such elements in JEI too. There is every reason to believe that it was these elements who were taking part in killing and looting, wearing BDR uniform. Deputy Assistant Director of BDR Towhid Alam who was at the forefront of the BDR mutiny and is presently in police custody has also confessed that outsiders were involved.
Mere disgruntlement over disparity in pay and service conditions could by no stretch of imagination explain the barbaric and gruesome manner in which some senior army officers and their wives were massacred, their dead bodies mutilated and dumped in sewer lines which are exactly what the Pakistani army did in 1971 along with their local collaborators including JEI.
A Bangladeshi security officer who is examining intercepts of telephonic conversations of the mutineers told the press that the conspiracy was planned at least two months in advance. This implies that the conspiracy was afoot even before the last general elections were held in Dec 2008 which brought the Awami League to power with a massive mandate. BNP and JEI along with their mentor Pakistan did anticipate that it would not be possible for them to return to power through democratic means as the Army-backed Caretaker Govt had made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair elections. It had also made its intentions clear in unequivocal terms by creating a level playing field and emphasizing that any kind of electoral malpractices would not be countenanced leniently. Hence the need for a conspiracy to come to power arose.
Media reports also reveal the presence of arms, ammunition and vehicles at the mutiny site pointing out that these did not belong to BDR. Reports also revealed that calls were made through satellite phones from Dubai to persons in Dhaka soon after outbreak of the mutiny.
Daily Janakantha reported the presence in Dubai of a “prince” (a reference to Tareq Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP and Khaleda Zia’s son who is presently undergoing medical treatment in UK) to monitor developments at Pilkhana on the fateful day. Even leaflets were circulated in anticipation in parts of Dhaka and other places to float rumours of a coup. According to the probe report, the mutiny was intended to create chaos and anarchy in the country and topple the Awami League Govt with the help of a “foreign state”.
It is now transpires that the mutiny had been planned by BNP and JEI in collusion with Pakistan to dislodge the Awami League Govt and bring the BNP-JEI alliance to power. Although reports of other investigating agencies are yet to come, available circumstantial evidence indicates involvement of Pakistan-BNP-JEI troika. It will not be out of place here to note that the Pakistan Govt sent a Special Envoy, Pervez Isphahani to Dhaka just 2 days before outbreak of the mutiny to persuade Sheik Hasina to abandon trial of 1971 war criminals.
Sheik Hasina with her overwhelming mandate in parliament is determined to go ahead with trial of the war criminals of 1971 and killers of her father Mujib and Awami League top leaders in 1975. JEI apprehends that the noose would soon tighten around the neck of the entire top leadership of the party for its role during the liberation war in 1971. Some senior BNP leaders like Salauddin Qader Chowdhury would also come under the dragnet for the same. Pakistan would also be affected as the preliminary list of war criminals compiled by the freedom fighters include names of 12 senior Pakistan army officers and the cases are likely to come up in International Criminal Court. Pakistan will have to face harassment and ignominy in such an event.
On the other hand, trial of “killer Majors” (a term used for Mujib killers) could lead to unmasking of many in Pakistan as well as Bangladesh. The role of Khaleda Zia’s husband Gen Ziaur Rahman (who was also killed in a similar coup later) in this regard is also not above board. Hasina has come out with her proposal for South Asian counter-terrorism force which has not gone down well with Pakistan as this will affect ISI’s anti-India operations presently being diverted through Bangladesh following international outcry over its role in inciting insurgency in Kashmir. Pak ISI has been working in close coordination with the pro-Pak Islamist lobbies and some elements of intelligence agencies and army in Bangladesh. Hasina has, however, started revamping these agencies.
Islamic fundamentalist elements and pro-Pak radical groups have always been wary of Hasina. Even though Pak ISI has shown its willingness to do business with her to protect its elaborate support structures in Bangladesh, Awami League and Hasina are viewed as enemies of Two-Nation theory propounded by Pakistan. Hasina too distrusts the pro-Pak radical Islamist elements. Hence she may like to convert this political challenge in to an advantage by reaching out to the ‘other’ world.
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