The families of the victims of the 2009 Pilkhana carnage today demanded the formation of a commission to find out the truth and ensure the punishment of the actual perpetrators.

They urged the caretaker government to reinstate the more than 18,000 dismissed BDR members, claiming they were not the actual perpetrators.

“Our demand is to ensure that the main culprits are punished. We do not believe that more than 18,000 BDR members committed the crime,” said Rakin Ahmed, son of the late Major General Shakil Ahmed, who was then the director general of the BDR.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a talk organized by BDR Kallyan Parishad at Ramana Institution of Engineering.

Rakin said the government must form a commission without delay.

He also said that conspiracies are going on both domestically and internationally, asking citizens to support students and people opposing these forces.

“Different intelligence agencies are hatching conspiracies both at home and abroad. Besides, the collaborators of the autocrats are still in the government,” he said.

Presiding over the discussion, BDR Kallyan Parishad President Mr. Foyzul Haque alleged that the 2009 riot was orchestrated by the then Awami League-led government.

“We urge the interim government to reinstate the dismissed BDR members, as they are not the perpetrators,” he added.

During the discussion, a nine-point demand was presented to the caretaker government, which included the reinstatement of sacked BDR members and the formation of an independent commission to investigate the incident. Other demands include designating the 74 people, including 57 army officers, who lost their lives in the Pilkhana carnage as martyrs, declaring February 25 as Pilkhana Tragedy Day, providing compensation and rehabilitation to the families of the victims and giving of immediate bail during the withdrawal of cases. against BDR personnel who have been in prison for 16 years.