South Asia News
Bangladesh begins first trial of soldiers for mutiny
Nov 24, 2009, 11:00 GMT
Dhaka - The trial began Tuesday against the first group of 3,500 Bangladeshi border troops who mutinied against their commanders over pay and rank in February, officials said.
A three-member special court headed by Major General M Mainul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), began the trial in the headquarters of the south-eastern sector of Rangamati against 40 soldiers accused of rebellion.
Earlier this month, the BDR headquarters set up six special courts, including two in Dhaka, to prosecute the mutineers.
Seventy-four people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the late-February rebellion at the force's Dhaka headquarters. Troops also mutinied at other bases.
Soldiers accused of other crimes including killings, arson and looting during the mutiny will be tried under the penal code, rather than the special martial courts.
Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Department detained as many as 3,500 soldiers and a few civilians allegedly involved in the mutiny, which had raised fears of another military coup in the country.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Britain's Scotland Yard provided assistance in the investigations.
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