Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to leave the country along with leaving her post. After resigning from the post of PM, she left Dhaka in a chopper. There is no information at present about where she has gone or where she is going. India has been Bangladesh’s closest ally. After Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, the Army Chief has announced the formation of an interim government. Let us know about the rebellion of 2009, when India saved Hasina’s chair.
In February 2009, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) revolted. During this time, a large number of senior army officers and their families were killed. This proved to be one of the worst massacres of army officers in the history of Bangladesh. Hasina had become the Prime Minister of the country only two months ago and she also held the defense portfolio. When she felt threatened, she remembered India. Her chair was saved and she was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh since 2009.
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When India saved Sheikh Hasina’s chair
As the rebellion grew and violence increased, Sheikh Hasina sought help from India. She spoke to India’s then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. On Hasina’s plea for help, the then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee also assured her of help. Immediately after receiving the information, the then Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon spoke to America, Britain, Japan and China and discussed Sheikh Hasina’s difficulties.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s plea for immediate help, India prepared military resources, including paratroopers from the 6th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. Orders were issued to prepare Indian troops for a possible landing in Bangladesh, with paratroopers deployed at key locations. Indian soldiers were given the responsibility of ensuring the security of Dhaka airport and then PM Hasina.
India sent a strong message to the Bangladeshi military leadership, particularly to army chief General Moeen Uddin Ahmed, warning that India would intervene immediately if any force was used against Hasina. The rebels were silenced by this stern warning and the situation was settled without any military intervention from India. In the months to come, rumours of a military coup continued to spread and the new government became unstable.
What was the whole matter?
In late February 2009, the Bangladesh Rifles were preparing for their annual three-day celebration, known as the “BDR Week”. It was an occasion when high-ranking officers and soldiers would meet, hold discussions, parade and display weapons, and celebrate with a big party. Usually, the event was attended by senior army officers. Sheikh Hasina herself attended the event, but only a day before the massacre.
The next day, on 25 February, a darbar was organised, which was considered one of the major events. The event was being held at the Pilkhana headquarters of Bangladesh Rifles. Pilkhana is a paramilitary cantonment in Dhaka. The top commander of the BDR was also present at the event. Weapons were not allowed in the darbar ceremony, but on 25 February, many BDR soldiers arrived at the darbar hall with weapons.
After the program began, the BDR Director General began talking to the jawans present there about their grievances. At around 9:30 pm, a BDR member raised his gun and pointed it at the senior army officers present. Soon after, other armed BDR jawans stood up. Meanwhile, more BDR jawans entered the Darbar Hall with weapons.
What followed was a wave of killings in the halls and barracks, with BDR jawans either taking army officers hostage or shooting them dead. However, the entire BDR regiment was not involved in this revolt. It is said that many of them tried to save the senior army officers, and some saved their lives by hiding.
By the time the revolt ended, 74 people had been killed, including 57 army officers. BDR Director General Shakeel Ahmed was also killed. Apart from the army officers, six civilians, including the Director General’s wife and some friends, were also killed.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)