The trial of 824 people, mostly border guards, accused of killing 74 people, including 57 senior army officers, in a mutiny last year, reflects the Bangladesh government's determination to punish those involved in the heinous crime. The fact that the case is being heard in a civil court rather than a military one also shows that the state wants a fair trial that will allow the country to move forward.
However, the authorities should not ignore the causes and the events that led to the rebellion — unfair pay, unfair treatment of the soldiers by senior officials and other grievances that were ignored by those on top of the hierarchy. The mutineers had repeatedly asked their officers to address these issues before finally pulling the trigger.
Prevention is the best medicine. Unearthing the causes of the rebellion and addressing them could help to prevent future incidents that have the potential to threaten the country's national security. In addition, the government should question the failure of its intelligence services.
