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BDR Carnage

Verdict Oct 30

Staff Correspondent
The verdict of the killing case filed in connection with the carnage at BDR headquarters in 2009, one of the deadliest incidents in the country's history, will be delivered on October 30.
After around 26 months' trial proceedings that started on August 24 in 2011, a Dhaka court yesterday fixed the date for delivering the judgment in the case for killing 74 people, including 57 senior and mid-ranking army officers.
The prosecution demanded justice for crimes committed in such a heart- rending event, while defence lawyers sought acquittal of their clients on the charges.
"Pray for me so that I can do justice,”
said Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka which is dealing with the case, after concluding the proceedings.
Wrapping up his closing submission, Anisul Huq, chief prosecutor of the case, reminded of the brutal killings during the bloody mutiny at Pilkhana on February 25-26.
"Your judgement should send a message to the nation that such an incident cannot take place in this Bangla," Anisul told the court.
During the 33-hour mutiny, disgruntled jawans of BDR, now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), looted arms and ammunition, shot dead the army officers who were posted at the paramilitary force and dumped their bodies into sewers and mass graves.
The number of accused in the case is 850, including 823 BDR jawans and 23 civilians. They include BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, city ward Awami League leader Torab Ali and the then BDR deputy assistant director Mohammad Towhidul Islam.
Of the accused, 813 are in jail, 13 are on bail while four have died in custody, prosecutor Sheikh Baharul Islam told The Daily Star.
He also said 20 of the accused were on the run.
During the trial, the court, which was set up at a makeshift building at Bakshibazar in the old part of the city, recorded statements of 654 out of 1345 prosecution witnesses.
Initially, the criminal case was filed with Lalbagh Police Station for murder, looting, arson and sedition, which was subsequently transferred to New Market Police Station.
During investigation, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police arrested a total of 2,307 people in connection with the mutiny, 2,282 of them were taken on remand, and 543 gave confessional statements.
On January 5, 2011, the court took into cognisance the charges of the killing case and framed charges against 850 accused on August 10 the same year. The trial started on August 24 in 2011.
The trial of another case filed under the explosive substances act in connection with the mutiny is going on in the same court. The number of accused in the case is 830.
Aminul Islam, a defence counsel, told reporters yesterday that the prosecution failed to prove charges against many of the accused. Besides, there were serious flaws in the investigation.
"So, I expect justice from the court," he said.