DHAKA – Bangladesh has established a commission to investigate the failed 2009 paramilitary mutiny and subsequent crackdown, including the role of alleged foreign backers, according to inquiry chief A L M Fazlur Rahman.
The mutiny began in February 2009 when soldiers from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) paramilitary force stole thousands of weapons from their headquarters and embarked on a killing spree. The uprising quickly spread, with thousands of soldiers seizing weapons and pledging allegiance to the mutineers. The army eventually crushed the mutiny, leaving 74 dead, including 57 army officials.
Hundreds of soldiers received punishments from special military courts, ranging from death sentences to a few years in prison. The United Nations criticized the process for failing to meet basic standards.
A previous investigation attributed the mutiny to years of pent-up anger among soldiers who felt their appeals for pay rises and better treatment were ignored. However, this probe was conducted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, who was removed as prime minister by a revolution in August and fled to India.
Since her fall, families of soldiers killed in the violence have campaigned to reopen the investigation. They have accused Hasina, then newly elected, of orchestrating a plan to weaken the military to bolster her own power in a country prone to coups. Protesters have also alleged India’s involvement in the plot, claims that are likely to infuriate New Delhi, which has not yet responded.
Rahman stated, “We aim to determine whether any foreign entity was involved in the carnage, as allegations of national and international conspiracy have been raised.”
Hasina’s rule was allegedly backed by New Delhi, and the 77-year-old remains in India, further straining relations between the two nations. On Monday, Dhaka requested India to send Hasina back to face charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity.”