After 16 years, 168 members of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have been released on bail in connection with a long-standing explosives case.
The releases took place on Thursday (23 January), with 41 individuals freed from Dhaka Central Jail, 26 from Kashimpur-1, 89 from Kashimpur-2, and 12 from the Kashimpur High-Security facility, said Additional Inspector General of Prisons Colonel Mohammad Mostafa Kamal.
He stated that the prison authorities received the official list of the 168 individuals, paving the way for their release.
This follows the announcement by Judge Mohammad Ibrahim Miah of Dhaka’s Special Tribunal-2 on 21 January, disclosing the names of 178 individuals granted bail.
Of these, prison authorities received confirmation for 168, enabling their release.
The case dates back to 2010, when trials against 834 accused individuals began under the Explosives Act.
However, proceedings faced significant delays as the prosecution prioritised evidence related to the associated murder charges, leaving the explosives case in limbo.
Consequently, despite acquittals or completion of sentences for the murder charges, the detention of 468 individuals continued due to pending explosives charges.
The interim government has recently reinvigorated efforts to investigate the 2009 BDR mutiny.
On 19 December, family members of victims approached the International Crimes Tribunal, calling for a fresh probe.
Subsequently, the government formed a commission headed by ALM Fazlur Rahman on 24 December, allowing a 90-day period for the inquiry.
Since early morning, emotional family members had gathered outside the prison gates to welcome their loved ones, marking a poignant end to a long chapter of separation.
