Thu Dec 26 18:37:57 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh to Investigate 2009 Paramilitary Mutiny, Including Alleged Foreign Involvement
**DHAKA** – Bangladesh has launched a commission of inquiry to investigate the deadly 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny, focusing specifically on the possibility of foreign involvement in the uprising and subsequent crackdown. The announcement comes amid renewed calls for accountability, spurred by allegations that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in India, orchestrated the weakening of the military for political gain.
The February 2009 mutiny saw BDR soldiers seize thousands of weapons and kill 74 people, including 57 army officials. A previous investigation attributed the violence to years of discontent among BDR personnel over pay and working conditions. However, families of victims and protesters have long claimed a conspiracy involving both Hasina and India, alleging that the former prime minister used the mutiny to consolidate her power.
Commission chief A L M Fazlur Rahman stated that the inquiry will examine claims of “national and international conspiracy,” explicitly aiming to determine whether foreign entities played a role in the events. These allegations are particularly sensitive given the already strained relationship between Bangladesh and India. Dhaka has recently requested India’s cooperation in extraditing Hasina to face charges related to the mutiny.
The 2009 mutiny resulted in hundreds of soldiers facing military court trials, with the United Nations criticizing the process for failing to meet international standards. The new investigation promises a fresh look into a pivotal event in Bangladesh’s recent history and is likely to further strain relations with India, who has yet to respond to the allegations of involvement.
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