Re-investigation into BDR killings to begin soon, says home advisor

Demands to reopen the investigations have intensified since the interim government came into power

Home Advisor Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury says the re-investigation into the BDR massacre that occurred 15 years ago will begin soon.

“There will be a re-investigation into the BDR killings. An investigation team will be formed soon,” said Jahangir while speaking to the media after visiting the BGB headquarters in Pilkhana on Monday morning.

As many as 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in a mutiny at the Border Guard Bangladesh headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana on Feb 25 and Feb 26, 2009. The tragedy sparked outrage within the borders of Bangladesh and beyond.

At least two cases, including a murder case and another case over explosives, were filed in connection with the killings.

As many as 468 BDR members are still accused in the explosives case following their acquittal or time in prison in the murder case.

The trial of the 850 accused in the murder case concluded on Nov 5, 2013. Of them, 152 were sentenced to death, 160 to life in prison, and 256 to various terms in prison. At least 278 people were acquitted.

On Nov 27, 2017, the High Court ruled on the death references and appeals in the case. The death sentences of 139 convicts were upheld and 185 people were sentenced to life in prison. Another 228 were sentenced to different prison terms and 283 were acquitted.

A total of 54 suspects, including 15 convicts, died before the High Court reached its verdict. As many as 226 of the accused have filed appeals and leaves-to-appeal against the High Court verdict in the murder case.

On the other hand, the state has filed a leave-to-appeal against the acquittal and reduction of sentence of the 83 accused in the High Court. These appeals and leaves-to-appeal now await hearings.

The trial of 834 people accused in the explosives case began in 2010. However, as the prosecution kept presenting evidence connected to the murder case during the trial of the explosives case, the trial was suspended.

There have been demands to reopen investigations into the BDR mutiny after the interim government came into power.

LAW AND ORDER IMPROVING, BUT ‘NOT VERY SATISFACTORY’

The home advisor has also stated that the law and order in the country is ‘not satisfactory’ despite having ‘improved a bit’ in the wake of a political shift in the government.

“The law and order situation has improved a bit. But there is still room for improvement. It is not at a very satisfactory level,” said Jahangir.

“Now if you ask me what the law and order situation is like, it is just satisfactory. But it needs to be better.”

While asking for some time for the situation to improve, he said: “As you know, we are changing almost all the policemen in Dhaka. They will need some time to get to know the streets. It will take time to build their intelligence network.”

“They are making changes in the BGB as well. This is why it is taking some time. But the situation is slowly improving. There will be more improvement in the future.”