Dhaka, Oct 15 (bdnews24.com)— Some of those who led 2009 BDR mutiny had met the ruling party MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim with a set of demands days before the mutiny broke out.
This was stated by Selim, who deposed before the Special Court set up at Aliya Madrassa playground for trying the mutineers.
"In the evening of Feb 13, some members of the Bangladesh Rifles came to my residence when I was meeting some people. Only six to seven of the BDR members entered my residence. The rest were waiting outside," said Selim before the court of Judge Jahurul Huq.
The group of BDR personnel included DAD Habib, Touhid, Sepoi Selim, Moyeen, Tareq and Ayub.
"The BDR members had demands relating to ration, conveyance allowances, leave facilities, education of their children and sending them to United Nation's missions. I had told them the matter lay with the Ministry of Home. 'You better meet them'," Selim said.
He further confirmed the team of BDR members that met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Jamuna residence after the mutiny that had broken out on Feb 25 included those who saw him at his residence.
The mutiny, named as BDR mutiny by media, broke out at the BDR headquarters at Peelkhana on Feb 25, 2009. As many as 73 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the bloody mutiny lasting two days.
The BDR was renamed as the Border Guard Bangladesh after the mutiny, and its uniform was also changed.
Asked by journalists whether Selim had informed high-ups about the demands, Selim said, "People met us with numerous demands. But it was beyond anyone's imagination that those demands would lead to killing of so many."
State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Parliament's Whip Mirza Azam and Inspector General of police Hasan Mahmud Khandker have already deposed in this case.
Selim was quizzed by defence lawyers after deposition.
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