The National Independent Investigation Commission (NIIC) formed to investigate the BDR killings said that the incident was a ‘green signal’ from then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ‘coordinating role’ of former MP and former mayor of Dhaka South City Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. The commission submitted its report to Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday.
Commission chief retired Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman said that the planned killings not only revealed political decisions but also failures and concealment of information by security agencies. The commission reached this conclusion based on force-based investigations, testimony and a review of various documents.
Commission member Jahangir Kabir Talukder said local Awami League leaders had influenced the situation by entering the pillory. The negligence in preserving the identities of the slain BDR members and the government’s decisions at the time of the incident also raised questions in the investigation.
Receiving the report, Chief Advisor Yunus said, “The nation was in the dark for a long time; this report will answer many questions.”
The commission said it had found “strong evidence” of the involvement of external forces and the role of the then ruling party in the incident. Although much evidence was destroyed, an attempt was made to paint a full picture of the incident through testimony and document review.
The commission has recommended several major structural reforms to prevent such disasters in the security forces in the future.