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Mutiny charges against nine

BDR trial begins in Rangamati

Shantimoy Chakma, Rangamati
The much-talked-about trial
of BDR mutiny began yesterday through pressing charges before the three-member court against nine soldiers of 12 Rifle Battalion of the Rangamati sector.
This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) that the border guards set up own courts to try soldiers on charges of mutiny on February 25-26.
The three-member court headed by BDR Director General Maj Gen M Mainul Islam sat at 3:00pm at a makeshift courtroom at the Mechanical Transport Shed of the sector headquarters.
During the fifty-minute proceedings. Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of Rajanagar 12 Rifle Battalion Rea* Uddin .Ahmed read allegations before the court against the nine alleged mutineers.
Of them, five are now in Rangamati jail and the rest are in Unit Quarter Guard, the BDR chief Maj Gen Mainul told journalists after adjourning the proceedings.
DAD Reaz in his submission told the court the nine mutineers supported the incidents at Pilkhana Headquarters and were ready to revolt. They also misbehaved with the officers and their families, cut telephone wire and kept arms and ammunition in open without permission, he added.
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The prosecutors in the court said they have adequate evidence and documents against the nine accused.
They added after nine months of investigation they have identified the nine as guilty with the help of the enquiry teams.
None of the accused was however produced before the court yesterday.
The court heard and accepted statements of the prosecutors and ordered to produce the accused before it today when the court sits again at 9:30am.
At first members of the special court-4 -■ Maj Gen Mainul, Lt Col Abdur Rouf and Maj Mostafa Al Mamun - -took oaths one by one by themselves and began the proceedings.
The trial is being conducted under the Bangladesh Rifles Order, 1972. The BDR has set up six such special courts to try the alleged mutineers in Dhaka and elsewhere under the BDR law.
During the bloody incidents in Pilkhana, mutiny also spread in some other battalions and garrisons including in a few battalions under the Rangamati sector.
The mutineers outside Dhaka, if found guilty, will get a seven-year jail term in maximum punishment, the DG said.
However, another trial will be held under the civil law (Penal Code) for the grievous offences committed by the soldiers in Pilkhana including murder, loot and arson. Investigations into these offences are still on by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
During the Pilkhana carnage, 74 people were killed including 57 army officers. Among the dead were the then BDR DG Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed and his wife.
During yesterday's trial. Deputy Attorney General Shoharawardi was present as the government law officer to advise or suggest the court. Besides, Mosharraf Hossain Kazal and Monzurul Alam Monzu were present as the senior public prosecutors on behalf of the state.
Three separate cases were filed accusing 39 BDR soldiers who allegedly revolted during the mutiny in Rangamati. The cases were filed with three police stations in Barkal. Baghaichhari and Longudu upazilas.
The mutiny in Rangamati took place at three of the sector's five battalions. The three battalions are 12 Rifle Battalion in Rajanagar in Longudu, 9 Rifle Battalion in Marishya in Baghaichhari and 18 Rifle Battalion in Chhotohorina in Barkal.
Around 39 alleged mutineers from the three battalions are now in Rangamati jail. Of them, nine from the 12 Rifle Battalion will face today's trial.
The nine mutineers are havilders Sabbir Ahmed, Md Shamsul Haque and Sohrab Hossain, signalman Abdur Rahman, sepoys Md Abul Kalam Azad. Md Sakhawat Hossain, Md Rasel Kabir, Md Zahir Uddin and Md Sarwar Kamal.
Eighteen alleged mutineers are from 9 Rifle Battalion of Baghaichhari. Of them, 16 names have been confirmed so far. They are Sohrawardi, Humayun Kabir, Del war Hossain, Abdul Mannan, Shafiqul Islam. Kartik Chandra. Amir Hossain. Abul Kashem Sikder, Sohrab Hossain, Mofiz Rahman. Abdul Motaleb, Abul Fazal. Abdul Mukit, Abdul Latif, Abdul Hannan and Enamul Haque.
Eleven allegedly revolted from 18 Rifle Battalion. They are Kamruzzaman. Shahin Ahmed. Abdul Haque. Solaiman Ahmed, Mobarak Hossain, Ramjan Ali, Kazi Enamul Karim, Rafiqul Islam, Kamal Hossain Khandaker, Salimur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman Mizan.
All of the alleged mutineers are now behind bars. BDR MEMBERS WANT TO RETRACT CONFESSION In Dhaka, 19 BDR members yesterday appealed to a Dhaka court to let them retract their confessional statements in the BDR mutiny case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Sahadat Hossain kept the petitions in the carnage case file after holding hearing on the appeals.
The petitioners divulged their confessional statements before different courts on different dates.
In the petitions, BDR members said they earlier were taken on remand and were tortured to give confessional statements.
Earlier. 58 other BDR jawans submitted same appeals to different Dhaka courts.
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