At a press conference in Dhaka on August 17, 2024, the families of the victims from the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) massacre have condemned the legal proceedings as unjust, claiming they were tainted by the partisan interests of the ousted Awami League government. In February 2009, border guards rebelled against their army officers, killing 75 people, including 57 officers. Special courts convicted 5,926 soldiers on rebellion charges, with some cases still pending.

The relatives of the victims argue that the official narrative of a dispute over benefits between the BDR and the army is a distraction from the true motives, alleging involvement of a foreign nation and some Awami League figures, including then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They have repeatedly demanded an independent investigation but faced death threats from Awami League leaders, according to the son of the slain BDR director general.

Two committees formed after the massacre failed to clarify the motives or masterminds, and their reports were never fully released to the public, prompting demands for full disclosure of these reports to ensure transparency. Many convicted soldiers have made allegations of custodial torture, condemned by international rights groups. The Awami League government maintained its narrative that the killings stemmed from a dispute over material benefits between the forces, which is believed to have impeded justice.