Dhaka, Aug 24 (IANS) The trial of over 800 mutineers who were involved in the massacre of 74 people, including 57 army officers, at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka in 2009, began in the capital Wednesday.


The trial began with the deposition of a former officer-in-charge of the Lalbagh police station in Dhaka, the Daily Star reported.

The session at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court went on for two and a half hours, where Judge Mohammad Zohurul Hoque heard the deposition of police official Nabojyoti Khisha.

Hoque later adjourned the case till Sep 7.

A total of 847 people - including 824 BDR troopers and 23 civilians - have been accused in the Feb 25-26, 2009, carnage in Dhaka's Pilkhana area at the headquarters of the border security force. They have been charged with crimes like arson, theft, looting and disposing bodies by dumping or burying them in mass graves.

The force has since been renamed Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB).

The court also held a hearing on framing of charges against 831 accused in another case filed for possessing and blasting explosives during the mutiny. There are around 1,200 witnesses in the second case.