BDR mutiny victims' families to file allegations at ICT

 
The family members of those killed during the BDR mutiny in Dhaka's Pilkhana 15 years ago say they are going to the International Crimes Tribunal, or ICT, to seek 'proper justice' for their killings. Advocate Saquib Rahman, son of victim colonel Quadrat Elahi Rahman Shafique, said he would file a complaint with the ICT within the next two weeks to uncover the 'true' facts of the killings and ensure the trial of the "behind-the-scenes conspirators."

The demand was made at a media briefing held at Raowa Hall in Dhaka's Mohakhali on Thursday, seeking 'justice for the deaths of 74 people, including 57 army officers, in Pilkhana and Martyred Army Day', bdnews24 reports.

The bloody mutiny at the BGB Headquarters in Pilkhana occurred on Feb 25 and 26, 2009, causing a stir in the global arena.
Two cases were filed in the incident - one for murder and the other under the Explosive Substances Act.

The release of 468 BDR members is stuck because of the explosive substances case after their acquittal or end of conviction in the murder case.
The trial of 850 people in the murder case concluded on Nov 5, 2013. Of them, 152 were sentenced to death, 160 to life imprisonment, and 256 others to jail terms with 278 people released.

The High Court issued a death reference and appeal verdict in the case on Nov 27, 2017, upholding death sentences for 139 convicts.

As many as 185 accused were sentenced to life imprisonment while 228 others to different periods, alongside 283 people released.

A total of 54 accused, including 15 officers, died before the High Court verdict. As many as 226 convicts appealed and filed leave to appeal against the High Court verdict.

On the other hand, the state also filed a leave to appeal against the acquittal and reduction of sentence of 83 accused in the High Court.

These appeals and leave-to-appeals are now awaiting hearing.

The trial of 834 accused in the explosive substances case began in 2010.

However, in the half way, the prosecution started to present only the witnesses of the murder case, slightly halting the court proceedings in the explosive case.

There have been demands to reopen the investigation into the BDR mutiny after the interim government assumed power.

This time the family members of the victims came up with the decision to file complaints at ICT.

Stating that the family members of the victims are not aware of the latest circumstances although the BDR mutiny lawsuit has been in the Appellate Division over the past 16 years, Saquib said: "No communication was made with us regarding the case during this long period. We, victims, don't know the situation of the case, how will the country's people know?"

Noting that the 'behind-the-scenes conspirators of the BDR killings are those who were in power during the previous regime', he said: "Our plan of action is that we will file a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal within the next two weeks."

"The present government couldn't make five minutes for us after so many days, now we hope the interim administration will provide security to the victims' families who will file complaints. Because those against whom we will complain were in power in the previous government."

"We will file complaints against Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Mirza Azam. It is possible to bring Sheikh Hasina to book by the doctrine of command responsibility in international law. As the head of the Ministry of Defence, she also cannot avoid responsibility. We will also lodge a complaint against her."

"Besides, we will file a complaint against those army officers, especially DGFI personnel, who were serving at that time along with journalists who created a wrong narrative."

Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said a re-investigation into the Pilkhana killings 'will definitely take place' after a ceremony at the BGB Headquarters on Nov 4.