BDR Carnage Case
DAD Touhid kept aloof fearing attack on him
Deputy assistant director (DAD) of erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Touhidul Alam, who proclaimed himself as BDR director general, was kept aloof yesterday fearing possible attack on him by some accused.
Since the trial began, more than 800 accused of the case were kept together in the dock. But DAD Touhid, also the prime accused of the Pilkhana carnage case, was kept alone between dock and Ejlash from the beginning of the court proceedings yesterday.
Quoting the prosecution, a defence counsel wishing to be unnamed told The Daily Star that some BDR jawans, who were found aggrieved over DAD Touhid, might kill him.
The soldiers became angry as DAD Touhid did not return with a gazetted copy of general amnesty after negotiation with the government during the BDR mutiny. If such gazette was published on the day they would not have to face the trial, he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a general amnesty to the mutineers of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on February 25, 2009 to end the mutiny at BDR headquarters.
The announcement came after two hours of negotiations between a 14-member BDR delegation led by DAD Touhid and the prime minister-led government side at the prime minister's residence Jamuna.
Prosecutor Mosharaf Hossain Kajol said he heard about it but did not know in detail.
He, however, admitted that the security measures were tightened at the court.
An on-duty police officer said he got instruction form the high-ups to beef up the security measures and kept DAD Touhid separate from other accused.
Mohammad Ramjan Khan, a counsel of DAD Touhid, said his client and DAD Jalil are kept separate in a cell of the jail.
Seven witnesses yesterday gave depositions at the Metropolitan Session Judge's Court and were cross-examined by the defence lawyers.
A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the mutiny at the BDR (now Border Guard Bangladesh-BGB) headquarters in Pilkhana on February 25-26, 2009.
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