[Bangla Daily Star] Five more of the 62 accused BDR mutineers of 19 Rifle Battalion in Feni pleaded guilty and begged for mercy yesterday at the BDR special court-3.On January 24, 53 accused mutineers pleaded guilty and begged for mercy during hearing for charge framing. The court, however, framed charges and proceeded with trial, reports a correspondent from Feni.
Eleven more prosecution witnesses gave statements before the three-member special court during the second day's trial proceedings. Three witnesses gave depositions on January 24.
The four who still pleads not guilty are -- Habildar Md Ruhul Amin, sepoys Md Mohiuddin Rony, Bashir Ahmed and Mizanur Rahman.
All 62 accused were taken to the court from the Feni jail.
Fifty-eight accused, who pleaded guilty, sat separately in the court, headed by BDR Director General Maj Gen M Mainul Islam.
Two other members of the court are BDR officials Lt Col Md Akhteruzzaman and Maj Md Maqsudul Alam.
The prosecution said the accused were involved in the mutiny in their battalion at Joylaskar of Dagonbhuiyan upazila following the bloody mutiny at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters.
The accused were allowed to cross-examine witnesses. Maj Awal Uddin Ahmed of Bangladesh Rifles, appointed as "friend of the accused", helped them in cross-examination.
The court adjourned proceedings till March 28.
Lt Col Gazi Md Salahuddin, commander of 19 Rifle Battalion, was present there as prosecutor while Deputy Attorney General Farhad Ahmed helped the court as a representative from the attorney general's office.
