All the 111 jawans of the record wing of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were sentenced yesterday to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two and a half years to seven years for involvement in a mutiny at BDR (now Border Guard Bangladesh) headquarters in 2009.
The Special Court-9, led by BGB Dhaka Sector Commander Col Habibul Karim, also fined each of the convicts Tk 100 in its maiden verdict against the Pilkhana mutineers.
The rebels were accused of leaving Darbar Hall defying the order of the then director general, taking part in the mutiny actively, distributing leaflets, giving provocative speech to local media and persuading others to participate in the mutiny.
They were prosecuted under the Bangladesh Rifles Rules 1971, upgraded in December last year. According to the rules, minimum punishment for mutiny is six months' imprisonment while the maximum is seven years'.
The court started delivering the judgment around 10:28am and continued till noon at the Darbar Hall.
Before that, it ordered the jawans to maintain the sanctity of the court. “Not complying with the order will be considered contempt of court and you will be punished for that as per the BGB rules.”
The punishment was handed down on the basis of the witness depositions, video footages, mobile call lists, documents, medical reports and other evidences, the court mentioned.
Among the accused, 10 soldiers submitted freedom fighter certificates of their fathers to the court to get special consideration, noted Col Habibul adding, their job records, present physical condition and career achievements were also considered in determining the sentences.
Of the convicts, 43 were
jailed for highest seven years each, 10 for six and a half years, nine for six years, 10 for five and a half years, four for five years, one for four and a half years, five for four years, 16 for three and a half years, six for three years and seven for two and a half years each.
Earlier the court asked the prosecutor whether all the accused present in the dock were in sound health.
Prosecutor Lt Col Mizanur Rahman told the court that everyone but Havildar Assistant Saidul were healthy and present. Saidul, awarded four and a half years' jail term, was sick and brought to the court on a stretcher.
Referring to the time (27 days) offered to the accused for self-defence, Habibul Karim said, “You lied and tried to bluff the court to escape punishment."
Briefing the press, an emotion-choked Mizanur
Rahman said, "The verdict will at least bring some peace to the departed souls of the slain army officials and their family members.”
The punishment has already been in effect from today (yesterday) and the convicts will get no salaries and benefits except the provident fund, he added.
A total of 74 people, including the then BDR DG and 56 other army officers, were brutally killed in a bloody mutiny at Pilkhana which spread from the headquarters to some other units across the country in February25-26,2009.
The court started proceedings on August 4, 2010 and framed charges on October 25. Forty-eight witnesses gave depositions against the accused.
Lt Col Mizanur Rahman, in his final arguments on January 3, prayed for maximum punishment of the accused.