Khagrachari, Sep 10 (V7N) - The Dismissed BDR Welfare Council of Khagrachari has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, through the District Commissioner. The memorandum calls for a thorough investigation into the orchestrated killings of February 25-26, 2009, at Pilkhana, and demands the reinstatement of all dismissed BDR members.
 
On Tuesday, September 10, at 12:30 PM, the leaders of the Khagrachari Dismissed BDR Welfare Council handed over the memorandum to the District Commissioner, Md. Shahiduzzaman, who will forward it to the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
 
After submitting the memorandum, Md. Abul Hossain, a representative of the dismissed BDR members, stated, "The 2009 Pilkhana massacre was a calculated conspiracy aimed at destroying the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to weaken the army, satisfy the then-government, and consolidate power. This massacre, which claimed the lives of 74 individuals, including 57 army officers, was part of a blueprint of vengeance. The post-massacre government destroyed evidence under the pretense of a sham trial and mischaracterized the incident as a rebellion. As a result, 18,520 BDR members were dismissed and sentenced. Today, thousands of dismissed BDR members and their families are living in poverty. We strongly urge the interim government to reinstate us in our jobs."
 
Present at the time were other members of the Khagrachari branch of the Dismissed BDR Welfare Council, including Mintu Chakma, Jyoti Bikash Chakma, Kazu Marma, Kadam Mohan Chakma, Yasin Farazi, and Kalo Pradip Talukdar.
 
END/BT/SMA/