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Published : 05 Nov 2013, 08:44 AM
Dhaka's Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman began reading out the sentence at around 12:30pm on Tuesday.
Security has been ratcheted up around the court set up at the Alia Madrasa playground ahead of the verdict.
Police, RAB and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troopers have been deployed in large numbers.
Entry to the area through Bakshibazar and Urdu Road has been closed.
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the Feb 25-26 mutiny in 2009.
Both the name and uniform of the border watchdog was changed. It was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The mutiny trial was held in accordance with the Act related to the BGB.
The trial for the killing of 74 people, loot and other charges are being conducted in line with the existing law.
A total of 850 persons, including 23 civilians, have been accused in the murder case. The list includes former BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.
It is the biggest murder case in Bangladesh, given the number of the accused.
Of them, 813 have been brought from the Dhaka Central Jail.
Ten of 13 other accused, who were on bail, have also showed up at the court.
Three others, hailing from Naogaon and Jessore, could not make it due to the ongoing Opposition's countrywide strike, defence lawyer Faruk Ahmed said.
BGB Director General Aziz Ahmed went to the tribunal earlier in the day.
In this case, 20 accused have remained fugitive while four others died during the trial.
As the number of the accused was large, the special court was set up beside the central jail.
Dhaka’s Special Judge Jahurul Haque began the trial proceedings on Jan 5, 2011. Deposition of witness started on Aug 24 that year.
Judge Akhtaruzzaman is currently holding the trial.
A total of 1,345 people including ministers, MPs, former and incumbent personnel of the army, navy and air force, former and present inspectors general of police and civilians testified in the case.
Finally, the testimony was wrapped up with the statements of 654 witnesses.
The prosecution wrapped up arguments on Sept 29, while the defence finished its arguments on Oct 20.
One murder case and two cases under the Explosives Act were filed at the Lalbagh Police Station in connection with the BDR killings.
Later, the cases were shifted to the New Market Police Station.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) pressed charges against 824 people in the murder case. Later, 26 more were included in the supplementary charge sheet.
In the case under the Explosives Act, the CID pressed charges against 808 people and later included 26 more people.
Trials in both the cases were held simultaneously.
