The National Independent Investigation Commission on the carnage at BDR Headquarters has initiated efforts to contact several foreign embassies to gather information on individuals who fled the country following the BDR mutiny.
A formal letter has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting assistance in identifying the whereabouts of those involved.
As part of its probe, the commission is also attempting to establish contact with former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, both of whom are believed to be outside the country.
At a press conference held at the BRICM building in Dhaka on Thursday (February 20), Commission Chairman Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman said that several individuals fled the country after the July-August coup. Some of them are considered crucial to the BDR mutiny investigation.
The commission aims to locate and, if necessary, contact them through diplomatic channels.
"If a person is hiding abroad, it becomes difficult to pinpoint their location and communicate with them. These things take time, and we have a limited window to complete our investigation," Fazlur explained.
When asked whether letters were being sent to embassies specifically for tracking, identifying, or interrogating fugitives, he responded: "We are seeking multiple forms of cooperation, including crucial information."
Fazlur Rahman highlighted the importance of obtaining testimony from General Moeen, who was Chief of Army Staff during the February 25-26, 2009, mutiny at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana. "We need to understand why the military operation failed, why so many army officers were killed," he said.
The commission also seeks to contact Sheikh Hasina, who reportedly fled to India after the recent political upheaval. "Reaching out to figures like General Moeen and Sheikh Hasina remains one of our biggest challenges," Fazlur admitted.
When asked whether the commission was considering previous investigative reports, Fazlur confirmed that the team had received the report prepared by Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury but was still trying to obtain the report by former Home Secretary Anisuzzaman.
Regarding testimonies, Fazlur said that the commission had already taken statements from 37 individuals, including military personnel, and had received first-hand accounts from the families of three martyred army officers. He cited the testimony of the son of Major General Shakil, who was killed in the mutiny.
The commission was given 90 days to complete its investigation. However, Fazlur Rahman admitted that two key challenges might delay the process – internal administrative matters and land interrogating fugitives abroad.
While the internal investigation is progressing, tracking down those who fled overseas remains a difficult task that could take extra time.
When asked whether General Moeen had been contacted, Fazlur said that Moeen had made public statements claiming he was willing to cooperate. "But why should we rely on what he says in a video? Let him appear before us and testify," he said. A letter has been sent to the relevant embassy regarding Moin’s return, but no response has been received yet.
Fazlur clarified that the commission had not specifically requested India's help to return Hasina. Instead, it had sent general letters to embassies seeking information about all fugitives. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows whom we need to contact and when. But first, we must confirm their locations before proceeding further," he said.
February 25 marks 16 years since the BDR mutiny, and speculation about foreign involvement—particularly by Indian intelligence agencies—has persisted. When asked whether the commission was investigating this angle, Fazlur confirmed: "We have been tasked with determining if there was any domestic or foreign conspiracy. We are not singling out any country, person, or organisation, but if our investigation reveals foreign involvement, we will make it known."
The commission has issued a public notice urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. It has also launched a website (https://www.bdr-commission.org/) to gather public input.
Despite logistical hurdles, the commission remains committed to uncovering the full truth behind the 2009 BDR mutiny. "Our main challenge is tracking down key individuals like General Moeen and Sheikh Hasina. Everything else is progressing," Fazlur concluded.