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| Bangladesh |
| 12 Rifle rebels stand in the dock today |
| 2009-11-24 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] The trial of BDR members in connection with the mutiny on February 25-26 in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country begins today through a special court at the Rangamati BDR sector headquarters. A three-member court led by BDR Director General Maj Gen M Mainul Islam will sit at the sector headquarters at 3:00pm today to start the trial of accused soldiers of 12 Rifle Battalion under the sector, said BDR Deputy Director General (DDG) Brig Gen Mohd Obaidul Haque. "Besides, a representative nominated by the attorney general will aid the court," said the DDG adding, "The court will deal with only the mutiny and each of the alleged mutineers will get chances of self-defence. The alleged mutineers will also be allowed to take help from an officer of the department or from their lawyers." Asked, Obaidul said, "It cannot be said yet how many alleged mutineers from 12 Rifle Battalion will be finally tried." After completion of the first day's proceedings, the court will sit again tomorrow morning and function for the first half of the day while the court will resume trial proceedings after Eid-ul-Azha vacation. Around 4,000 BDR soldiers will be tried under the BDR Act on charge of mutiny. Earlier on November 15, the BDR headquarters constituted six special courts--two in Dhaka--as per the Bangladesh Rifles Order 1972 to initiate trial of the mutineers while BDR DG will head each of the three-member courts. Soldiers involved in other crimes including killings, arson and looting that took place at Pilkhana will be tried under the civil law and investigation is also going on in this regard, BDR sources said. The mutiny in Rangamati took place at three of the sector's five battalions. The three battalions are 12 Rifle Battalion at Rajnagar, 9 Rifle Battalion at Marissa, and 18 Rifle Battalion at Chhotohorina. Around 40 alleged mutineers from the three battalions are now in Rangamati jail. Five of them from the 12 Rifle Battalion will face today's trial. As per the BDR laws, every accused will get at least 27 days to prepare for their defence. They will be able to get officers from the force free of cost for self-defence. They can also hire lawyers from outside, said a BDR officer. Special court-1 will deal with mutiny in Khulna, Rajshahi and Kushtia sectors, special court-2 with cases in Dinajpur and Rangpur sectors, special court-3 will cover Sylhet, Comilla and Mymensingh sectors, special court-4 will cover Chittagong, Rangamati and Khagrachhari sectors while special court-5 Dhaka sector, and special court-6 will try mutineers of the BDR headquarters. At least 73 people, including 57 army officers deputed the paramilitary force, were killed in the February 25-26 mutiny. Our Rangamati correspondent adds: in the first day, basically, only trial court will be formed to operate the activities of trial. Five alleged mutineers have been kept in Rangamati jail. They are Sabbir Ahmed, Sohrab Hossain, Abdur Rahman, Md Shamsul Haque and Md Abul Kalam Azad. After the mutiny in Rangamati, three separate cases were filed accusing 39 BDR jawans with three police stations. Advocate Shaiful Islam Ponir, a friend of the accused, yesterday told The Daily Star that the accused were not involved in the mutiny and they were on duty during the revolt. |
| Posted by:Fred |