Dhaka: On the third anniversary of the 2009
bloody mutiny by the Bangladesh border guards, the government
on Saturday underlined its determination to complete the trial as
soon as possible of those involved in the rebellion that
killed 74 people, including 57 Army officers.
The country today marked the third anniversary of the
February 25-26 carnage by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), which
has now been renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
"The trial of the culprits will be completed as soon as
possible," Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said at a function to
remember the sacrifice of the paramilitary personnel killed
during the failed rebellion.
Wreaths were placed on behalf of President Zillur Rahman
and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and special prayers held in
memory of those killed during the massacre.
Fifty-seven army officers were among the 74 people killed
that included the then BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed.
The mutiny had spread to sector headquarters and regional
units of the frontier force across the country though
casualties took place only at the Pilkhana headquarters in the
capital.
The 36-hour-long mutiny ended when the mutineers were
forced to lay down their weapons amid mounting pressure and
fears of military assaults on the paramilitary personnel.
Over 3,036 rebellious troops have been jailed for periods
up to seven years by paramilitary courts while many still
await trail on mutiny charges.
Fifty-seven frontier guards are still on the run.
Under a reconstruction campaign, Bangladesh last year
renamed the force as BGB and changed its laws, uniform, flag
and monogram.
The rebellious soldiers had claimed that a sense of
"deprivation" had prompted them to stage the bloody mutiny,
according to a government report.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 00:37