Dhaka, Feb. 25 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described the 2009 killing of Army officers at Pilkhana as an attempt to undermine Bangladesh's sovereignty.

On Wednesday, Tarique said the massacre highlighted weaknesses in the country's national security structure.

"The Bangladesh Army has a glorious history in the Liberation War and in the nation-building process afterwards. It stands as a symbol of our sovereignty," Tarique said at the Army Multipurpose Complex in the Cantonment.

"I believe the Pilkhana tragedy was a deliberate attempt to violate our sovereignty. The incident exposed weaknesses in our national security apparatus, and our government will work continuously to modernise and strengthen it in line with global standard...