Bangladesh Commission accuses Ex-PM Hasina of 2009 Army massacre

WEB DESK: An investigative commission in Bangladesh has released a report alleging that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered a violent military mutiny in 2009. The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) revolt resulted in the deaths of 74 people, including army officers, destabilizing Hasina’s newly formed government.

The interim administration under Muhammad Yunus established the commission after Hasina was ousted last year. According to the findings, Hasina’s government was directly involved in the killings, with former MP Fazle Noor Taposh named as the principal coordinator. The commission’s head, A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, also suggested possible involvement of a foreign force, later pointing to India, accusing it of attempting to weaken Bangladesh’s military. India has not yet responded to the allegations.

Yunus praised the report for revealing what he called long-hidden truths, contrasting it with an earlier inquiry conducted under Hasina’s rule, which cited soldiers’ grievances over pay and conditions. Hasina, currently in India despite court orders to return, has not publicly responded to the new accusations.

Separately, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia remains critically ill in a Dhaka hospital, while her son and acting party leader, Tarique Rahman, indicated uncertainty about returning to Bangladesh from exile. The interim government has stated there are no legal barriers to his return and would facilitate his travel if requested.