PM pledges state honor for Pilkhana martyrs, border force modernization

Published : Wednesday, 25 February, 2026 at 7:32 PM Count : 564

Prime Minister (PM) and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has vowed to modernize and strengthen country's border guard forces while pledging long-term welfare measures for the families of officers killed in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre, calling the tragedy an assault on national sovereignty that must never be repeated.

Tarique made the remarks on Wednesday during an exchange session and iftar with families of the martyred army officers at Dhaka Cantonment, marking National Martyred Army Officers Day 2026.

"After a long struggle, an elected government chosen by the people is now running the country. We will make the border forces more modern and well-organized. Our members will serve at the borders with patriotism and professional excellence," the prime minister said.

Speaking with visible emotion, Tarique said he came not merely as a public representative but as a member of a military family.

"Seventeen years after the incident, my voice grows heavy standing in this hallowed ground of martyrs' memories. I stand before you as the child of a fellow soldier," he said.

He described February 25 as one of the bloodiest and most sorrowful days in national history.

"When this day arrives, nature itself seems to fall silent under the weight of grief and memory. The anguished cries of those horrific moments echo in the air. The barbaric massacre of February 25 and 26, 2009, inflicted a deep wound on our national life that endures to this day," Tarique said.

Prime Minister (PM) and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addresses an exchange session and iftar with families of the martyred army officers at Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday, marking National Martyred Army Officers Day 2026. Photo: Collected

The prime minister recalled visiting Banani Military Cemetery shortly after his return to Bangladesh and said he felt the 17 years of unbearable struggle, immense sacrifice, and agonizing denial of justice that the martyrs' families had endured.

Tarique declared that commemorating the Pilkhana tragedy with full state recognition is a national responsibility.

"If we do not accord state dignity to the events of February 25 and 26 in our history, future generations will not forgive us. The current government will work in consultation with the army and the families to ensure these memories are preserved," he said.

Highlighting the border force's deep roots in national history, the prime minister noted that members of the then East Pakistan Rifles stood alongside the army at the Kalurghat Radio Station in Chittagong in 1971 when Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman declared independence.

He said Zia later prioritized restructuring and modernizing the border force, increasing the deputation of capable army officers and reorganizing the force along military lines in 1978 by converting wings into battalions and adding new units.

Tarique characterized the Pilkhana massacre as a deliberate attempt to undermine Bangladesh's sovereignty and said it exposed fundamental weaknesses in the national security architecture.

"We must modernize, update, and strengthen our national security framework to keep pace with the rest of the world. Our government will work toward this goal," he said.

The prime minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to building long-term support systems for the martyred officers' families, including education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programs for their children.

Noting that the holy month of Ramadan teaches restraint and self-purification, Tarique concluded with a prayer for the souls of the martyrs and for divine guidance to lead the nation's institutions on the path of justice, discipline, and responsibility.