Bangladesh News

Six special courts of Bangladesh Rifles will hold 50 trials in as many places across the country for the February 25-26 mutiny.

The first of the trials began on November 24 at Rangamati sector headquarters.

The second one will get underway tomorrow at Satkhira battalion headquarters.

There, the three-member special court-1 headed by BDR Director General Major General M Mainul Islam will try some 55 soldiers from 7 Rifle Battalion at Nildumur under Khulna sector, said sources in the border force.

“All six courts will be headed by the DG. As per the BDR act, they will try around seven thousand border guards on charges of mutiny at 50 rifles establishments,” said an official involved with the arrangement of trial proceedings.

Of the mutiny-hit premises, 10 are in the capital’s Pilkhana headquarters and the remaining 40 are in 27 other districts, he added.

The 27 districts are Satkhira, Jessore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Narail, Feni, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.

Two of the six courts will be devoted to trial of the ones charged with mutiny at the BDR Pilkhana headquarters.

Dhaka sector headquarters, 24, 36, 13 and 44 Rifle Battalion, headquarters battalion, BDR hospital, Rifle Security Unit (RSU), Signal Sector and Rifles Sports Board are the 10 establishments that saw 74 persons including 57 army officers killed in a 33-hour carnage at Pilkhana.

Around eight thousand border troops were at Pilkhana during the bloodbath on February 25-26. But all of them would not have to go on trial, said a BDR source.

Around three thousand of them might have to stand trial on charges of mutiny. The rest would face departmental actions that could at the maximum cost them their jobs, added the source.

But for those to be tried on mutiny charges, the conviction could carry up to seven years in jail, fine and dismissal from the service.

Like at Pilkhana in Dhaka, mutiny took place in more than one place in some districts. For example, revolt spread among three of the five battalions in Rangamati sector. In Satkhira, jawans mutinied in two battalions–7 Rifle Battalion at Nildumur and 41 Rifle Battalion under Khulna sector.

Initially, the courts will sit for two days.

On the opening day, charges will be pressed and arrest warrants issued, and on the second day, the accused will be produced before the court.

After the second day’s proceedings, the court will be adjourned for about a month as the BDR Act prescribes giving the accused at least 27 days to consult lawyers and prepare for defence.

On the second day of the trial at Rangamati, the court adjourned its proceedings till December 27 so the nine accused and their lawyers could make preparations.

After initiating the prosecution in Satkhira, the BDR court might sit in Feni, said sources.