BDR mutiny continues, 50 dead
February 26, 2009
Visionmp.com News service
With the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny spilling over from capital, Dhaka, to engulf other parts of the country – Chittagong, Rajshahi, Feni, Teknaf, Satkania, Sylhet, Dinajpur and Naogaon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday warned revolting troops to lay down arms or face tough consequences.
Latest reports suggest nearly 100 people may have been killed in gunfights that are fast reaching a point of no return. No official confirmations were available on the death toll.
Media reports suggest at east 10 tanks are moving towards the BDR headquarters in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka.
Several schools and establishments remain shut in the affected areas and mobile phone services have been suspended across the country in a bid to stop the rebellion spreading, although there is thought to be service in some parts of Dhaka, says the Government run telecom commission.
Though, the gun battles on Thursday were largely between BDR ranks and the regular army, unconfirmed reports suggest the mutineers also opened indiscriminate fire in the north eastern Moulvibazar district of the country.
According to BBC, senior employees and officers taken hostage by the mutineers in Dhaka on Wednesday have been released.
“Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks. Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience beyond tolerable limits,” said Premier Hasina said on national television.
Later in the day, Hasina also meets government officials in a hastily called emergency meeting to discuss the situation. The mutiny broke out over pay and conditions.
Bloggers reporting out of Bangladesh on Wednesday said, trouble erupted at a BDR meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday when a soldier questioned a top official of financial irregularities committed by his wife.
The report attributing inputs to a ‘source’ says, the incensed official drew his weapon and shot dead the soldier asking the questions at the meeting room at the Pilkhana headquarters of the paramilitary force.
Soon after trouble broke out Sheikh Hasina met with the leaders of the mutiny. She promised both to meet their demands and to ensure that they would not face prosecution.
Border guards in Dhaka subsequently began laying down their weapons. However, gunfire broke out again on Thursday at a barrack in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka, reports Ria Novosti.
Frustration runs high in the BDR – a paramilitary force – as key positions on the force are filled by the Bangladeshi army, which incidentally has a long history of interfering in the country’s politics.
The top brass being handled by the army means little or no promotions for BDR officials who are forced to play second fiddle in the force.
(This is a breaking news update, pl. check back later for more reports)
