35 ex-BDR members released from Kashimpur jail

Thirty-five former members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were released from different units of the Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur after securing bail in a case filed under the Explosives Control Act in connection with the 2009 BDR mutiny.

The release began around 6:30pm on Monday (November 24), following verification of their bail documents, which reached the prison earlier in the afternoon.

Of those freed, one was released from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail, two from Central Jail Part-1, and 32 from Central Jail Part-2.

According to prison officials, bail for 53 accused was granted by the court last Thursday. Their documents reached Kashimpur Jail on Monday, after which the authorities completed scrutiny and released the eligible prisoners.

Senior Jail Super Md. Al Mamun of the High Security facility confirmed the release of one former BDR member, while Senior Jail Super Abu Noor Md. Reza reported the release of two from Part-1.

Senior Jail Super Md. Al Mamun (Part-2) stated that 32 former BDR members from Part-2 were freed after verification.

The 2009 BDR mutiny occurred on 25 February 2009 at the BDR Headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana, resulting in the deaths of 57 army officers, including then–Director General Maj. Gen. Shakil Ahmed. A total of 74 bodies were recovered.

In the aftermath, two separate cases—one for murder and another under the Explosives Control Act—were filed on 26 and 28 February.

The murder case, the largest in Bangladesh’s judicial history, named 850 accused. In 2013, the trial court sentenced 152 to death, 160 to life imprisonment, and 256 to various jail terms, while 278 were acquitted.