Pilkhana Carnage Case
Charges against 847 accused read out in court
The prosecution yesterday completed reading out charges against 847 accused, including former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali in the BDR carnage case.
Charges against 47 accused, including 23 civilians, were read out at a makeshift court in the capital's Bakshi Bazar area.
On April 12, 26 and May 9 charges against 803 accused were read out by the prosecution. Of the 850 accused, three have died while 21 others are absconding.
The court proceedings began at 9:40am and continued for two hours.
The court adjourned the trial proceedings till June 13.
Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol read out the charges before Judge Mohammad Zohurul Hoque and then prayed for framing charges against all the accused.
After completion of the prosecution submissions, lawyers of 11 accused made submissions to discharge their clients from the charges.
At one stage, prosecution and defence were locked in debate regarding simultaneous trial of two cases-- one for murder, arson, looting, hiding of bodies and sedition and the other for using explosives.
The judge, however, said the trial of the cases would be run separately.
Before the hearing, all the accused, including Pintu, were produced before the court under tight security. Additional law enforcers including Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were deployed inside and outside the courtroom.
All the prosecutors including Anisul Haque and Sheikh Baharul were present at the court during the hearing.
Last year, in July the CID pressed charges against 824 jawans and 23 civilians for murder, arson, looting, hiding of bodies and sedition.
At least 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the February 25-26 carnage in 2009 at the Pilkhana headquarters of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), earlier known as BDR.
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