BDR mutiny explosives case: 53 more former Rifles members granted bail

Fifty-three more former Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel have been granted bail in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the 2009 BDR massacre.

Judge Shihabul Islam of the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-2 of Dhaka passed the order today, Shahadat Ali, bench assistant of the court, told The Daily Star.

"A total of 190 accused filed bail petitions, but the tribunal granted bail to 53," he said.

Earlier, 263 former BDR personnel secured bail in the case between January 19 and October 9 this year.

A total of 298 prosecution witnesses have so far testified in the case.

Between February 25 and 26, 2009, a total of 74 people, including 57 army officials, were killed during the mutiny at the BDR headquarters at Pilkhana, Dhaka.

On February 28, 2009, the case was initially filed with Lalbagh Police Station which was subsequently transferred to New Market Police Station on April 6 the same year.

In July 2010, Investigation officer Abdul Kahar Akand, special superintendent of police at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), submitted a charge sheet with the court.