Document shows BDR jawans of Bolipara Camp of 10 Rifle Battalion in Bandarban took up arms after their commanding officer on February 26 order them in writing to do so. However, a sedition case was later filed against 235 jawans of the camp for looting firearms from the arsenal.
The order issued at 10:00am on February 26 reads, “Considering overall situation, I, the signatory, am issuing an order to the members of Bolipara Camp of 10 Rifle Battalion headquarters to take personal and heavy arms and ammunition from the arsenal…”
The Daily Star has a copy of the order signed by the then commanding officer of the battalion Lt Col Abdullah Ali Jayeed.
However, Major Shafiuzzaman, now in charge of the battalion, told The Daily Star yesterday that, “As far as I know he [Lt Col Abdullah Ali Jayeed] did not give such an order…it is not possible.”
Lt Col Jayeed could not be contacted.
Defence lawyers of the jawans accused of sedition produced a copy of Jayeed’s order before a Bandarban court yesterday.
Six BDR jawans of the same camp, who were sent to Bandarban Rear 90km off the battalion headquarters before the BDR carnage in Dhaka to attend a basketball training camp, were also accused in the sedation case.
The Daily Star also has a copy of the official form, signed by the operations officer and deputy assistant director of the same battalion, granting them deputation from January 29 to March 19.
The six jawans are Lance Nayek Asaduzzaman, sepoys Mahbubur Rahman, Saifur Rahman, Nibharul Islam, Abdul Malek and Alam.
In this regard, Major Shafiuzzaman said nobody was falsely accused of anything.
Police filed two sedition cases with Bandarban Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court against 275 BDR men of two BDR zone in Bandarban. Police accused them of staging mutiny at Bolipara Camp, taking arms and ammunition from the arsenal and brandishing firearms at senior officials following the carnage at BDR Pilkhana headquarters in February.
After filing of the cases, the court issued arrest warrants against the accused–235 of Bolipara BDR zone under Thanchi upazila and 40 of Naikkhangchhari BDR zone.
Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested 110 of Bolipara zone on May 11 and 40 of Naikkhangchhari on May 14.
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Bandarban yesterday rejected the bail prayers of the 110 BDR jawans.
The trial process of a sedition case filed against 40 BDR men will begin on June 10 at the District and Sessions Judge’s Court, Bandarban.
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