Bangladesh Supreme Court has opined that mutineers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) can not be tried under the Army Act for staging rebellion on Feb. 25-26 this year.

Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Sunday told reporters that an 11-member full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin gave the opinion.

A total of 75 people, including 57 army officers in the commanding positions in the BDR were killed during the mayhem at the BDR Headquarters in Dhaka.

The Law Minister said an inter-ministerial meeting will be held on Monday to take decision on the process of the trial.

Barrister Shafique said the Supreme Court might have given some directions though the judges said "no" to hold trial of the mutineers under the army act.

Against the backdrop of the directions, he said the government will decide about the law to ensure quick completion of the trial process.

On Aug. 18, the President sent a Reference to the Supreme Court seeking its opinion on which law the BDR mutineers should be tried.There was confusion in the government whether the paramilitary BDR should be tried under the army act or existing general laws.

The Supreme Court had earlier sent its opinion to the President. The Law Ministry on Sunday received the Supreme Court's opinion from the President office.

Source: Xinhua