PM Tarique Rahman honours army officers killed in BDR mutiny

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the Banani Military Graveyard today, Thursday, to pay respect to the army officers who lost their lives in the tragic 2009 BDR mutiny. Accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, the Premier offered prayers for the departed souls on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

The Prime Minister and his entourage arrived at the graveyard at approximately 9:15 AM. They first proceeded to the grave of Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, the former Navy chief and father of Dr. Zubaida Rahman, where they offered fateha and a munajat seeking eternal peace for his soul.

Following their initial visit, the Prime Minister and the First Lady moved toward the graves of the army officers slain during the Pilkhana mutiny. Standing solemnly in front of the dedicated memorial monument, they took part in a special prayer service, seeking divine forgiveness and eternal peace for the fallen military personnel.

A high-profile state delegation accompanied the Prime Minister during the graveyard visit, including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, and State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, alongside senior military officials and representatives from the defense forces.

The visit to the Banani Military Graveyard followed a series of floral tributes and prayers earlier in the morning. Immediately after participating in the central Eid-ul-Azha prayers at the National Eidgah, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, along with Dr. Zubaida Rahman, traveled to honor his family members. They visited the graves of his father, late President Ziaur Rahman, his mother, late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and his younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, offering prayers at their final resting places.

The remembrance honors the catastrophic events of February 25 and 26, 2009, when a violent mutiny erupted at the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka. The multi-day standoff resulted in the deaths of 74 individuals, including 57 active-duty army officers. Following the incident, the defense sector established a designated burial wing within the Banani Military Graveyard, where the majority of the slain military officers were laid to rest with full state honors.