The BDR mutiny trial, scheduled to begin on Thursday (January 9) at the temporary court set up in the Alia Madrasa grounds in Bakshibazar, faced protests from madrasa students. The students, armed with sticks, occupied the field, protesting the use of their premises for court proceedings, citing a pre-planned cultural event.
Although the court proceedings were supposed to start in the morning, by 11:00 AM, no legal activities had commenced. Students demanded that the space be preserved for their event and vowed not to allow the court to function there.
Witnesses at the madrasa grounds reported no presence of court officials or lawyers as of yet. Meanwhile, a meeting between madrasa students and representatives from the police and army, including the Lalbagh Deputy Commissioner and a military unit, took place on-site.
Protests and Security Measures
The situation escalated earlier when the courtroom was set ablaze overnight. According to Lalbagh Senior Fire Station Officer Md. Mostafizur Rahman, “We received the report at 4:20 AM and rushed to the scene. Various roadblocks delayed our arrival. By the time we got there, the fire had mostly subsided, leaving only smoke and ashes inside the courtroom.”
A stage and chairs, set up for the cultural event, were seen on the field. Following the students’ protests, police and BGB units took positions at Bakshibazar intersection to control the situation. Army personnel were also deployed to maintain order, and vehicle access to the area was restricted.
Background of the Case
The BDR mutiny, which occurred on February 25-26, 2009, at the Border Guard Bangladesh headquarters in Pilkhana, resulted in the death of 74 individuals, including 57 army officers. The trial for this heinous event has faced numerous delays and challenges, further complicated by the students’ objections to the temporary court setup.
BDR family members, who had gathered at Shaheed Minar in support of the trial, expressed their frustration over the delay. Shakil Ahmed, a family member, stated, “On November 28, the court deferred the bail hearing, citing the need for a session at Alia Madrasa. Yet, even today, no progress has been made.”
The Ministry of Law reaffirmed that the hearing will proceed at the madrasa field, despite the protests. The situation remains tense, with security forces closely monitoring developments.
