Dhaka, Dec 21 (bdnews24.com)—The president has assented to the Border Guard Bangladesh Bill 2010 that renames Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), changes its logo and provides death penalty for mutiny.
Under the new law, the paramilitary agency will be known as the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB).
Secretary Ashfaq Hamid of the parliament secretariat on Tuesday confirmed bdnews24.com about the signing of the bill by president Zillur Rahman on Monday.
The bill will come into effect from Dec 23.
The draft law was passed in parliament on Dec 8 after it was tabled on July 14. The cabinet approved it on July 12.
At a press conference on Tuesday, 24 Rifle Battalion in charge Lt Col Shamsur Rahman said the trial of BDR Peelkhana mutiny would be held under old BDR laws.
"If the actions of any of the accused are tantamount to mutiny after Dec 23, the new law will be applicable."
The government moved to enact the new law after the bloody BDR mutiny at the Peelkhana headquarters on Feb 25-26 last year that killed over 70 people, including 57 army officers deputed to the border force.
When the new law comes into effect, the current Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Order of 1972 and Bangladesh Rifles (Special Provision) Ordinance 1976 will stand annulled.
Under the BGB Act, appeal cannot be made to the Supreme Court against the decisions of Border Guard courts and appeal tribunals.
The new law defines mutiny as two or more people disobeying valid orders from the authorities, challenging or obstructing the authorities, expressing their legal or illegal dissatisfaction to the authorities or making any attempt to commit any of the above.
The law also gives the director general or officials granted by him the authority to join other professional institutions for the sake the force, or to acquire professional skills.
DEATH PENALTY
The law has further toughened penalties for crimes committed by border guards, including a provision of death penalty for mutiny, or disobedience in the field by border guards.
The existing maximum penalty under the BDR law is seven years in jail.
LOGO, UNIFORM
The border guards will get a new insignia and new uniform of black, maroon and ash instead of the present olive-maroon colours.
The current logo will also be replaced by a new one.
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