Six hundred and fifty-seven jawans of 24 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Monday sentenced to prison terms ranging from four months to seven years for their involvement in the February 2009 mutiny in Pilkhana headquarters.A BGB special court acquitted nine of others as allegations against them were not proved.
BGB Director General Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam, head of the Special Court-7, fined each of the convicts Tk 100.
Of the convicts, 108 were handed highest seven years' jail. Nine were awarded six years, five eight years, three four years and six months, 26 four years, 57 three years and six months, 52 three years, 18 two years and six months, 82 two years, 55 one year and six months, two one year and three months, and 67 one year imprisonment.
Besides, 34 were handed nine months' jail, 47 six months and the rest 89 four months' jail.
The court started delivering the judgment at about 10:15am and finished at 1:19pm.
Total 666 out of the 667 accused were produced before the court set up at Pilkhana headquarters in the capital. The other accused died of 'heart attack'.
Of the accused, 31 confessed to their involvement with the mutiny while the rest pleaded themselves innocent.
The court began the trial proceedings against 667 accused on March 31 last year.
The BGB jawans were convicted on various charges including leaving the Darbar Hall defying the director general's order, not desisting the rebels from the mutiny, not informing the higher authorities about the mutiny and taking part and expressing solidarity with the mutineers who killed 74 people, including 57 army officials.