Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has characterized the Pilkhana massacre as a deep-rooted conspiracy and a heinous attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Wednesday (February 25) morning during a memorial discussion held at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Dhaka Cantonment to observe the day of martyrdom.
"Remembering this dark day at Pilkhana with appropriate state honors is not only the responsibility of the government but a moral duty for every citizen of this country," the Prime Minister stated.
Addressing army officials, he said,
Live TV
RTV Plus 
"I have not come here today merely as a representative of the people or as the Prime Minister; I stand among you as a member of a military family. Upon returning to the country after a long life in exile, as I stood by the graves of the martyrs at Banani Graveyard, I felt the immense pain the families of the fallen have endured, knocking on doors for justice over the past 17 years. Their long wait and deprivation are a source of great sorrow for the nation."
Describing the Pilkhana tragedy as a major lapse in national security, Tarique Rahman noted, "The army is the primary symbol of any country's sovereignty. The barbaric attack on army officers at Pilkhana was essentially a blueprint to fracture our national security. It is imperative to address the severe vulnerabilities in our national security that were exposed by this incident."
Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs, he emphasized that proper honor must be shown to them through the official state observance of this day.
The Prime Minister pledged to overhaul the nation's national security framework, stating that the current government will work tirelessly to make the security system more modern, scientific, and robust.
This, he noted, would ensure that neither foreign enemies nor internal conspirators would ever again dare to strike at the country's sovereignty.
He reaffirmed his government's commitment to the welfare of military families and to ensuring a fair judicial process for the Pilkhana massacre.
