Mutiny spreads across B'desh; 50 army officers killed

A bloody mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) today spread to areas outside the national capital, as the death toll in the uprising over pay dispute mounted to over 50 with retrieval of five more bodies including that of a Brigadier from Pilkhana garrison here.

As the renegade BDR personnel started laying down their weapons in Dhaka in response to a general amnesty announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports said that BDR soldiers in the outlying provinces had also joined the rebellion.

TV channels reported that rebellion had broken out in 12 border districts where senior officers, mostly from the army had fled. According to police, BDR personnel in Joypurhat district indulged in indiscriminate firing.

In Dinajpur and Rangpur districts -- both sectoral headquarters of BDR -- soldiers came out of barracks and held demonstrations, but there was no report of violence.

Islam did not elaborate but the sources said 35 military officers including BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed, who were serving the paramilitary forces on deputation, were still missing.  A spokesman of the Prime Minister's office said that she would address the nation over Television and radio on mutiny.  

Hasina's address would follow a meeting of her senior party leaders and cabinet ministers to discuss the situation.  

A government delegation led by Home Minister Shahara Khatun came out of the BDR headquarters today after overnight stay to oversee the weapon surrendering by the rebels which began after midnight, Islam said.  

"The guards have begun surrendering arms after we have offered amnesty to them," Khatun told reporters while leaving the compound today, adding that the surrender would complete by later today. Khatun personally rescued several stranded family members of the officers.  

Khatun received about a dozen automatic rifles from surrendering mutineers. TV channels showed guards filing out of buildings in the compound and laying down arms, one by one.  

The fate of Maj Gen Ahmed was still not known. The 'Prothom Alo' newspaper quoted the sources as saying that Ahmed was dead.  

"We could not establish any contact with him yet," government negotiator Fazle Noor Taposh MP told reporters after emerging from a three hour talks with different groups of mutineers.

As many as 50 senior army officers may have been killed in the revolt in Pilkhana Headquarters yesterday.

"We fear some 50 people are dead," Junior Law Minister Quamrul Islam told reporters today outside the Headquarters, the scene of heavy gunbattles yesterday.

Police said they confirmed the identities of at least two of them, BDR's Deputy Director General Brigadier Abdul Bari and Operations Director Colonel Anis.

Prime Minister Hasina would address the nation on the happenings.