By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government Sunday moved the presidency for guidance on the legal process to be followed to try border guards who mutinied in February killing 71 people.
On the government’s advise, President Zillur Rahman will Monday make a reference to the Supreme Court for guidance whether the rebels of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) should be tried under the military law or the civil law.
An inter-ministerial meeting on the BDR trial had decided last month that the president would seek the chief justice’s opinion before deciding as opinions varied on whether the trials should be held under the military law or the criminal law, the bdnews24.com website said.
Thousands of BDR troopers revolted Feb 25-26, attacking a meeting of the top brass, ostensibly to demand better pay packets and working conditions.
Those killed included 47 officers of the Bangladesh Army on deputation to the border force gathered at the Durbar Hall at the BDR headquarters in the heart of the national capital.
Monday will also see the Durbar Hall hold its first BDR gathering since the bloody events, the border force chief director general Major General Mohammed Mainul Islam said.
Various government functionaries have charged the mutineers as being part of a conspiracy.
Moves to try them under the military law were criticised by human rights bodies which contended that the rebel troopers were civilians and military laws should not apply to them.