Spl court gives 2009 mutiny verdict

Dhaka, May 5 (bdnews24.com) – A special BGB court on Saturday sentenced 309 border guards to various prison terms for their role during the 2009 Peelkhana mutiny.

Of them 52 members of the then 36th Rifles Battalion got the highest punishment, permitted in paramilitary forces' law, of seven years in jail.

One of the 310 accused was found not guilty and has been acquitted of all charges. Two of them were given the minimum sentence of four months' imprisonment along with a fine Tk 100.

Judge colonel Khandaker Obaidul Ahsan of the special court-10, set up to deal with the mutiny case, pronounced the verdict.

"Sepoy Abdur Rashid was acquitted and will be reinstated in his position if there are no other cases against him," prosecutor Maj Sujaul Haque said.

"Of the 310 accused, 63 have been charged with murder and would be tried under the penal code."

The verdict comes two years after the case was filed.

On Mar 15, 2010, Subedar Gias Uddin filed the mutiny case against 310 members of the then 36th Rifles Battalion stationed at Peelkhana during the Feb 2009 mutiny at the border guards' headquarters in the capital.

The indictment finished nearly 11 months later, and witness depositions started on Feb 22, 2011.

The case was initially under trial at Special Court-5 and was moved to the current court after the special court was reconstituted.

Six special courts were formed nearly six months after the mutiny to try those responsible under the BDR (border guards) laws. They were later reorganised and 10 courts were set up as they have to deal a large number of accused. Two of the courts have been set up at the border guards' headquarter in Peelkhana.

A total of 11 cases were filed for the mutiny in different sectors of the paramilitary force that started on Feb 25, 2009 at the headquarters of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

Verdict of five of these cases have been handed down.

The mutiny that lasted two days saw 57 army officials including the then BDR chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed being killed. The mutiny also spread to the border force's stations around the country.

It also led to an overhaul of the border forces with the name being changed to Border Guards of Bangladesh and a change in colours.

The trial for the killings is being held at the general court under the penal code.