The government has decided to observe February 25 as National Martyred Army Day, honouring the supreme sacrifice of army officers who lost their lives in the tragic Pilkhana incident.

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday instructed all ministries, divisions and organisations to comply with the observance annually. However, the day will not be marked as a public holiday.

On February 25, 2009, several hundred mutineers of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), launched an armed rebellion at the Pilkhana Darbar Hall, brutally killing 74 people.

Among the martyrs were 56 valiant army officers, including the then BDR chief, Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed. Their sacrifice remains a dark yet solemn chapter in the nation’s history.

Each year, the country remembers this tragic day with deep sorrow, paying tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty.