Why is the Awami League Condemning Yunus Government's 'Baseless Fiction'?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Awami League has condemned the Yunus government's report on the Pilkhana massacre.
- They claim the report is a politically motivated fabrication.
- 74 people were killed in the 2009 BDR mutiny, including army officers.
- The party urges national unity against perceived political manipulation.
- Historical context highlights the complexity of the situation.
Dhaka, Dec 1 (NationPress) The Awami League of Bangladesh has vehemently criticized the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government for what it calls a malicious effort to politically misguide the public with unfounded fictional narratives regarding the Pilkhana massacre.
This statement follows the submission of a report by a National Independent Commission established in December 2024 by Yunus's government, which accuses former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior leaders of the Awami League of orchestrating the massacre.
According to Prothom Alo, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh, on February 25, 2009, during the three-day BDR Week, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles personnel revolted at the Darbar Hall of the Pilkhana headquarters, resulting in the deaths of 74 individuals, including 57 army officers.
The Awami League expressed serious concern, labeling the investigation report as a fabricated attempt to exploit the emotional weight of the Pilkhana massacre.
They stated, "The manner in which this report was released indicates that it is nothing but a politically motivated tirade from an illegitimate regime. The report unfairly attributes blame to the Awami League without presenting any substantiating evidence. An unbiased review reveals that the intent was to destabilize Sheikh Hasina's government, with the killings driven by anti-Awami League sentiments," as noted in a party statement.
The party pointed out that the BDR Deputy Assistant Directors responsible for the massacre were appointed during the regime of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, selectively targeting military officers from families of freedom fighters and Awami League supporters, many of whom had contributed significantly to eliminating militancy and ensuring the fair elections of 2008.
The Awami League questioned who could benefit from such a tragic event occurring merely 50 days after Hasina assumed office.
"Following the commission's report release, its malicious intent has become evident to the nation. Citizens are voicing their opinions on social media against this false and fabricated report. We urge everyone to remain united against these illegal usurpers who aim to weaken the political landscape to legitimize their unlawful rule," the party emphasized.
Stressing the need to safeguard the nation from the division and chaos that the Commission's malicious actions could incite, the Awami League called upon the people of Bangladesh to unite and overcome this challenge.