The panellists at the symposium titled "15th Anniversary of BDR Massacre: Context, Security, and Democracy in South Asia" at the Whitechapel Centre in East London, United Kingdom, organised by the "Global Bangladeshi Alliance for Human Rights (GBAHR)," recently made a comment suggesting that the BDR killings were primarily orchestrated with assistance from Indian intelligence agencies.

Speakers at the symposium stated that on April 15, 16, and 19, 2001, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) engaged in armed clashes with the Indian Border Guard Force (BSF) at 'Padua' on the Sylhet border. In all three battles, the courageous BDR soldiers emerged victorious. While the Commanding Officer of the Indian border guard force is recruited from the Police, the Commanding Officer of the BDR is recruited from the Army on deputation, making the BDR a robust paramilitary force. The BDR killings were primarily organised with the assistance of Indian intelligence agencies as revenge for the Padua issue. Army officials, BDR officials, academics, and legal experts assert that the events of the 1/11, followed by the 2008 national election, have gradually undermined Bangladesh's national security and democracy. Numerous challenges exist for peace and security in Bangladesh, India, and South Asia, and there is currently no regional forum to address these issues. The speakers highlighted that the entire country was made hostage to the neighbouring country by undermining Bangladesh's border security, a situation deemed unsafe for both nations. Without the support of regional and international powers, achieving peace and security in South Asia will remain elusive, according to the speakers.

The speakers expressed profound concern over the failure to conclude the BDR massacre case even after 15 years, as well as the mysterious deaths of at least 50 key accused and witnesses in jail. The absence of released reports from both the Public Inquiry Committee and the Military Inquiry Committee has sparked suspicions regarding the potential involvement of numerous influential individuals in the killings.

Md. Zakir Hossain emphasised in the main article that as a foremost measure to ensure the security and integrity of Bangladesh's borders, the government should promptly initiate a comprehensive public inquiry and trial concerning the BDR murders. Additionally, the speakers urged the nation's citizens to recognize that the long-standing issues facing independence and sovereignty stem from Bangladesh's judiciary, military, and political parties aligning with India and manoeuvring against the elected government. They pointed out that despite various attempts to remove Imran Khan in Pakistan, the presence of a robust judiciary has provided an avenue for the people to reclaim their rights. However, every facet of the state structure has been systematically dismantled in Bangladesh. Still, the speakers expressed confidence that the populace could return the country to the right path.

In the article, Major (Retd.) Zakir Hossain highlighted that the loss of many military officers in a single day had not occurred even during the Second World War. He emphasised that the trial of this tragic incident in the history of the Bangladesh Army is now imperative. Hossain stressed that just as there can be no compromise regarding national security, there should be no compromise in ensuring this trial occurs. He urged all stakeholders to speak up vocally on this matter at both the national and international levels.

The speech delivered by the chief guest, former professor of Dhaka University, Hasnat M Hossain, emphasised that the trial of this heinous murder will only find completion when the people of Bangladesh regain their rights. He conveyed condolences to the martyred officers and their families from the BDR massacre, affirming that Bangladesh will never allow the sacrifices of these martyrs to be forgotten.

The discussion was presided over by Major (Retd) Zakir Hossain, Joint Convenor of the Global Bangladeshi Alliance for Human Rights, with participation from Barrister Zillur Rahman and Alliance Convener Journalist Shamsul Alam Liton, among others. Former BDR Director General Major General (Retd) Fazlur Rahman and Major (Retd) Safayet joined virtually from Bangladesh and the USA, respectively.