Charges against 106 mutineers read out

The special court-17 yesterday read out the charges against 52 mutineers of Six Rifles Battalion headquarters in Jamalpur while the special court-13 read out the charges against 54 rebels of Rangpur Sector headquarters and 34 Rifles Battalion under the sector the same day, report our correspondents.
Headed by Kushtia Sector Commander Col Md Nazrul Islam Sarker, the special court-17, set up at Six Battalion headquarters in Jamalpur, started trial proceedings at 11.00am and continued until 12.00 noon. Two other members of the court are Lt Col Gazi Md Salah Uddin and Major Md Ashfak Hossain.
At the beginning, Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Md Azizul Islam of the battalion under Mymensing sector brought allegations against 52 BDR rebels. Lt Col Md Abdul Khabir Sarker, commanding officer of the battalion, is the prosecutor, court sources said.
The court took the charges into cognisance and ordered arrest of eight of the 52 accused, who were in service until yesterday. The court also asked the authorities concerned to produce all the 52 accused before it at 8:00am today.
As per court order, the authorities concerned later arrested the eight and sent them to Jamalpur district jail.
Police arrested 44 BDR members of the battalion following a mutiny case filed against them on May 17 last year. Later the case was transferred to the District and Session Judge Court.
In Rangpur, the special court-13 read out the charhes against 54 mutineers of Rangpur Sector headquarters and 34 Rifles Battalion.
Of the accused, 11 are from Rangpur Sector and 43 belong to 34 Rifles Battalion under the sector.
The court, headed by Dinajpur Sector Commander Col Md Saleh Ahmad, adjourned the trial until 10:00am today. Two other members of the court are Lt Col Mahfuz Alam and Major Didar Al Latif.
Accepting the allegations brought against the accused, the court asked the authorities concerned to produce all the accused before the court today.
Nayek Subedar Rafiqul Islam of the sector headquarters and Acting Subeder Golam Kibria of 34 Rifles Battalion filed two cases after the jawans revolted against their officers on February 26 last year.
Our staff correspondent from Sylhet reported that two more accused yesterday admitted to their involvement in the mutiny at 21 Rifles Battalion under Sylhet sector. On Tuesday 37 out of 44 accused confessed to their involvement while five claimed innocence.
Nayek Abu Taleb Faruqi fell sick at the court. He was sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital. BDR Lance Nayek Abdus Salam also fell sick while trial was going on Tuesday. He was also admitted to the hospital.
The special court-14, set up at Sylhet sector headquarters, resumed trial at 8:55am yesterday. As many as seven prosecution witnesses, including the then battalion commander Lt Col Khandaker Zahurul Alam and second in command Major Md Taslim Uddin gave their statements before the court headed by Col SM Farhad, Comilla sector commander. Two other members are LtCol 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.
Lt Col Khairul Quadir, commanding officer of the 21 Rifles Battalion, is the prosecutor. he read out the allegations against the 44 BDR rebels before the court on October 20.
In Khagrachhari, the trial of the mutiny case filed against 42 members of Khagrachhari BDR sector began at special court-15, set up at the sector headquarters, yesterday, according to a correspondent.
Assistant Subedar Md Serajul Islam of Khagrachhari BDR Sector, who filed the case against 42 BDR jawans after February 26, 2009, read out the charges.
He alleged that the accused joined the mutiny at Khagrachhari BDR sector on February 26 last year, expressing solidarity with mutineers of BDR headquarters at Pilkhana in the capital.
After hearing the charges, court chief Lt Col Zahedur Rahamn, Chittagong sector commander, asked the authorities concerned to produce all the 42 accused in the court at 9:00am today.