Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said that if his party was voted to power, the name Bangladesh Rifles, associated with the memories of the Liberation War, would be reinstated.
He also pledged that, following consultations with the Bangladesh Army, the day of the Pilkhana massacre would be officially declared either as Martyr Soldiers’ Day or Army Massacre Day.
Tarique made the pledges while addressing a programme titled Firm Confidence in Independence and Sovereignty, organised for former members of the armed forces and their family members at Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital.
The discussion meeting was arranged by the BNP’s Armed Forces Affairs sub-committee as part of preparations for the 2026 parliamentary election.
Referring to the 2009 Pilkhana killings, Tarique said that after the massacre of army officers, the then fascist government changed the name of the BDR, which carried the legacy of the Liberation War, and even altered its uniform and colour.
‘If, by the people’s verdict, BNP is entrusted with the responsibility of running the state, the Liberation War–associated name BDR will be restored,’ he said.
He said that if the BNP formed the government, it would form a committee comprising both retired and serving members of the armed forces to examine the proposals for a National Security Council and reforms to certain provisions of the Army Act.
Tarique reiterated that the policy of One Bank, One Pay would be implemented and said that it has already been included in the party’s election manifesto.
The BNP chairman also stressed that the armed forces would not be allowed to be used for political interests under a BNP government.
He also said that the glory and dignity of the armed forces would remain intact.
Tarique said that while the army must remain conscious of political developments, it should not be absorbed into politics.
He said that it was essential for officers and members of the armed forces to remain vigilant so that their professionalism was not overshadowed by politics.
BNP chairman’s defence affairs adviser Major General (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar delivered the welcome address at the programme.
