Verdict in Sylhet BDR mutiny case today
The special court-14, set up at Sylhet sector headquarters, will deliver the judgment in a mutiny case against 44 BDR men of 21 Rifles Battalion at 3:00pm today, an official said yesterday evening.
Argument was held on November 25 while Prosecutor Lt Col Khairul Quadir, also the commanding officer of the battalion, pleaded for justice for the incident that took place at the battalion on February 26 last year. He, however, also pleaded for taking a lenient view about those who had confessed to their involvement in the mutiny and sought mercy.
As many as 39 accused out of 44 pleaded guilty while the rest claimed innocence during the trial at the special court headed by Col SM Farhad. Two other members are Lt Col Akhtaruzzaman and Major Maksudul Alam.
Deputy Attorney general Farhad Ahmed represented the attorney general while special public prosecutors Gazi Zillur Rahman and Habibur Rahman were present.
During the argument, the prosecution stated that 44 jawans took control of the battalion in the city's Akhalia area on Sylhet-Sunamganj Highway on February 26 last year. They also blocked the road, set fire to some vehicles, looted firearms from armoury and fired blank shots.
The then officer-in-charge of Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Syeduzzaman filed three separate cases with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on May 17 last year against BDR rebels of Sylhet sector and two battalions as they revolted against their officers, expressing solidarity with the mutineers of BDR headquaters in the capital.
The same court yesterday recorded statements of 18 prosecution witnesses in the case filed against 61 mutineers of Sylhet sector headquarters. All the accused were produced in the court.
The then sector commander (acting) Lt. Col Gazi Salah Uddin gave a detailed description of the incidents that took place at Sylhet sector sector on February 26 last year. Prosecutor Major AKM Aurangajeb, acting commanding officer of the sector, also gave his statement.
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