ZCZC
BSS- 21
BDR-MUTINY-FULL-VERDICT
HC lauds PM’s role played during BDR mutiny
DHAKA, Jan 8, 2020 (BSS) – The High Court has praised Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina for taking time-befitting and accurate decision in dealing with
Pilkhana BDR Mutiny in 2009.
Besides, the court in the full verdict of the mutiny case published today
lauded the role of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy
in addressing the deadly incident.
Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique in his observation said a newly-elected
government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took a rational decision
with courage and patience to control the mutiny, which was a farsighted one.
Capitalising the long-standing dissatisfaction of BDR, a vested quarter
had hatched a plot to destroy a skilled and trained border force through a
mutiny aiming to destabilise the country’s socioeconomic condition, the court
said in its observation.
It said Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy handled
the situation with professionalism showing unflinching trust in the country’s
constitution and democracy, which got applause from the country’s people.
The High Court today published the 29,590-page full text verdict of the
2009 BDR mutiny case after the three conducting justices signed on it.
Justice Md Shawkat Hossain, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice Md
Nazrul Islam Talukder signed the full text verdict of the case, which gave an
11-point instruction.
On November 5, 2013, a Dhaka court sentenced 152 soldiers of the then
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and two civilians to death, and 160 others to life
imprisonment for their involvement in the BDR mutiny. And 256 soldiers were
sentenced to various jail terms.
A total of 257 appeals were filed with the High Court against the verdict
of subordinate court.
On November 27, 2017, the three-member bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul
Islam Talukder, Justice Md Shawkat Hossain, and Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique
upheld the death sentences of 139 convicts, acquitted four and commuted the
death sentences of eight others to life imprisonment.
Besides, the bench upheld the life term imprisonment of 146 convicts,
among 160, and acquitted 12 others. It also sentenced 34 others to life
imprisonment who had previously been acquitted by the subordinate court. Two
hundred others were sentenced to various jail terms.
On February 25-26 in 2009, a total of 74, including 57 army officials,
were killed during the mutiny that took place at BDR Pilkhana headquarters in
Dhaka.
BSS/CORR/MRI/ARS/1743 hrs