Dhaka - A section of Bangladesh's paramilitary border troops involved in last week's mutiny at their headquarters and killings of their commanders may face courts martial, a minister said Saturday.

"If needed, they will be tried in courts martial under the army rules," the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafiq Ahmed told reporters in Dhaka while briefing on progress into the process of mutineers' trials.

He added that the mode of the trial would be determined only after the investigation was completed, but the government could apply the Army Act 1952 to try members of any forces raised and maintained by the government.

"If it is found that the Bangladesh Rifles troops alone are involved in the rebellion, they would be tried in one way and if the civilians are found involved, then in some other way," the minister told reporters in Dhaka.

Immediately after the mutiny was quelled at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters on February 26, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed announced that her government would prosecute the rebel soldiers in special tribunals.

The 33-hour bloody mutiny against commanders killed 71 people, including 56 mid-ranking army officers.

Police levelled charges against more than 1,000 soldiers for mutinying, killing, looting of armoury and valuables and taking hostage a number of civilians inside the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters during the bloody rebellion.

By Friday 28 rebels, including a prime suspect, had been detained, as army-led joint forces remained deployed to capture absconding rebels.

Three investigation teams - one of the army, one of the home ministry and one of the Criminal Investigation Department - have been probing reasons behind, and those suspected of involvement in, the carnage. (dpa)