The much-talked-about verdict in the BDR mutiny carnage case which was scheduled to be pronounced today now will be delivered Tuesday.
“The date for delivering the verdict in the BDR mutiny carnage case has been shifted from today to November 5 as I could not prepare the judgement,” said Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka.
The judge, who is dealing with the case, announced the fresh date at his office on the court premises in old part of the capital.
Earlier on October 10, the judge fixed today (October 30) for delivery of the verdict in the case filed following the bloodbath at the Pilkhana headquarters of the erstwhile BDR (now Border Guard Bangladesh) on February 25-26, 2009.
The mutiny left 74 people, including 57 top and mid-ranking army officers, killed by the rebel BDR personnel.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last night said although the trial in the BDR carnage case was at final stage, the announcement of the verdict required more time as the gravity of the offence was very serious.
She was at a meeting with the leaders of Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal at Gono Bhaban, the official residence of the premier.
A total of 850 people, including 823 BDR jawans and 23 civilians, were accused in the case.
BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, city ward unit Awami League leader Torab Ali and the then BDR deputy assistant director Mohammad Towhidul Islam are among the accused.
Of the accused, 813 are now behind bars, 13 are on bail, while four have died in custody, said prosecutor Sheikh Baharul Islam. The rest have been absconding.
The trial was held at the court set up at a makeshift building at Bakshibazar in Old Dhaka. During the trial, the court recorded statements of 654 people out of 1,345 prosecution witnesses.
Source: The Daily Star
