Bangladesh jails 3,036 border guards for 2009 mutiny

The troopers were jailed for varying terms, ranging from four months to seven years, Mohsin Reza, spokesman for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) -- then known as the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), told Xinhua.

The court also fined each of the convicted soldiers 100 taka (around $1.43). Twenty of the accused were awarded with the highest seven-year imprisonment term, while seven received the lowest four months, he said.

The court, however, acquitted five men of involvement in the two-day mutiny. The BDR in November 2009 constituted six special courts to try thousands of guards accused in connection with the bloody mutiny Feb 25-26, 2009, which left 74 people dead, including 57 army officers on deputation with the paramilitary force.

On the first day of the two-day mutiny, the chief of BDR Maj. Gen Shakil Ahmed was shot dead by mutineers.

Of the 3,113 guards who have been tried so far, 77 have been acquitted. Another 2,932 are awaiting trial.

They have been accused of killings, attempted murder, looting and arson committed during the mutiny. Other offences include breach of discipline and defying superiors' orders.
The trial had begun Aug 24.

During the mutiny, around 8,000 BDR personnel were reportedly present at the headquarters of the paramilitary force.

There are around 67,000 BGB personnel now, who are guarding the country's 4,427-km border with India and Myanmar.