Demystifying BDR tragedy
THE protracted enquiries must throw light on the BDR tragedy, as the gruesome murders of more than 58 army officers at BDR headquarters on February 25 came as a bolt from the blue, dealing a body blow to our armed forces. The ongoing enquiries will be soon concluded, but the lingering trauma and shock from the worst ever tragedy will haunt us for long.
No words of sympathy or cash dole can truly soothe the grief-torn hearts of the bereaved, as they have to carry the burden of grief and the saddest memory throughout their lives. Only through a proper enquiry and trial can they find true solace at heart. Hardly had the new government taken over when it was faced with this ordeal and exposed to jolts and jitters, but it did not lose its way. It formed a non-party enquiry committee, and the army was authorised to conduct a probe separately.
The CID was ordered to investigate the multiple crimes committed, and the commerce minister was tasked with coordinating investigation. Unfortunately, some of his comments were met with mixed reactions, albeit he clarified his position with partial retractions.
Besides, FBI and Scotland Yard teams came to provide the much-needed technical support in the probes. Appreciably, a due process of law was set up, and the latest time extension made to help delve deep into these matters. Now, would it not be wrong to doubt the reliability of the enquiries? The authority's clear intent to mete out the sternest of punishment to the killers and the masterminds is on record.
As against our bleak record of enquiry and trial of such killings, the government may take it as the right occasion to bring in a difference by ensuring justice, as most people hope it will. The assuaging of the army officers' sentiments and consoling of their families by the prime minister, with a firm promise of justice, struck the right note.
The number of people visiting the enclosed corner at the roundabout near Pilkhana to register their heart-felt love and mourning for the fallen heroes brings to the surface the people's collective demand for a trial.
What did the human chain programs by the sons and daughters of army families indicate if not empathy with the bereaved in this hour of their deepest pain, and a call for justice? Besides, the candlelight prayer offered by thousands symbolises our heartfelt cry for a true trial. Appreciably, the prime minister herself feels the depth of the pain. There is, therefore, no reason to suspect that the trial may be misdirected. We believe the enquiry committees will bring out the truth without being distracted.
We had better refrain from showing any extra-sensitivity to the ongoing enquiry. Random comments that might muddy the enquiries are not also desirable, whatever sources they may emanate from. The committees will surely pinpoint what went wrong, and who did what, so their findings can lead to a fair trial of, and exemplary punishment to, the killers. For objectivity, they need to weigh up all the views, facts and figures that are surfacing.
One significant angle points to the grisly murders being linked with a "grand plot" aimed to strike a deadly blow to the army leadership, and push the army and the BDR into a vortex of mistrust, thereby threatening our national security.
One other view relates to the suspicion that the ultimate goal of the orchestrators of the tragedy might be more sinister and vicious -- that is to embitter the government-armed forces relation, and then to destabilise the country.
The third view is that the conspirators may have sought to keep the new government bogged down with the enquiry and trial, and thus distract the government from its agenda of changing the fate of the people, and to derail its move for war crimes trial in particular.
To frustrate such ugly designs, the government would do best to press ahead with its agenda. As a must-do, it has to demonstrate its strong will to demystify the tragedy and punish the killers and their backers. Otherwise, the image of the government might receive a serious knock. The killers cannot have the impunity to get away with wreaking the havoc they did.
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