178 former paramilitary troops are freed after 16 years in Bangladesh.

On Thursday, Bangladesh’s interim administration freed 178 former paramilitary troops who had been imprisoned for 16 years on claims of involvement in the 2009 mutiny.

DW writes: “These personnel were imprisoned for their alleged roles in the violent two-day mutiny of 2009, which led to the arrests of thousands.” The rebellion, which targeted top commanders in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), resulted in widespread arrests and more than 150 death sentences in preliminary hearings.

Human rights organizations have criticized the judicial procedure under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. According to DW: “Rights groups raised concerns over procedural lapses and questioned the fairness of the trials.” The inmates, who were released on January 23, had previously been cleared of murder charges.

DW emphasized, “The cases of these detainees remained pending for over a decade, reflecting a disregard for human rights during Hasina’s tenure.” Their release came months after Hasina ended her 15-year reign.

Abdul Qasim, a 38-year-old freed prisoner, expressed relief. “I can’t put my sentiments into words. “I am finally going back to my family,” Qasim stated.

Shiuli Akhter, the 40-year-old wife of one of the released men, described the scene as astonishing. “It feels like a dream.

If Sheikh Hasina had been in office, my husband would never have been released from prison,” Akhter remarked. She also criticized Hasina’s government, saying, “There was no justice during her leadership. What happened to us was unjustified.

My spouse was not aware of the mutiny or the deaths. He had recently joined the BDR when he was arrested.”

The insurrection, which erupted in 2009 during Hasina’s administration, was blamed on years of dissatisfaction among lower-level troops with little pay and bad treatment.

Despite many pleas, their complaints were ignored. Critics of Hasina said that she engineered the rebellion to undermine the military and cement her power.

Following her ouster, relatives of soldiers slain during the rebellion urged that investigations be reopened. Last month, the temporary administration took action on these demands.