1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny


The 1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny was a mutiny in Dhaka on 1 October 1977 by members of Bangladesh Air force and the Signal corps of Bangladesh Army.

Background

Bangladesh was under a military government headed by President Ziaur Rahman who had come to power through a coup. The government of Bangladesh was busy with the Japan Airlines Flight 472 hijacking and the exchange of hostages for ransom. The Japanese Red Army had hijacked the plane and landed it in Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka. The hijackers were warned of the mutiny and told to take defensive position if they saw armed personnel moving towards the plane by the air control tower.

Events

The revolt was carried out by lower ranking soldiers of Bangladesh Army Signals Battalion and Bangladesh Air Force. The mutineers had killed 11 officers in Tejgaon Airport. Ten soldiers were killed from the army. The mutineers took over Dhaka Radio station briefly and attacked the residence of president Ziaur Rahman. After the mutiny was brought under control of the government, hundreds of soldiers, mostly from the Air Force, were arrested and tried in military tribunals. Hundreds were convicted and executed in Dhaka Central Jail. The government of President Zia officially announced the hanging of 561 Air Force personal. The mutiny was led by Sergeant Afsar of Bangladesh Air Force, he was influenced by the ideology of Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal.