50 feared killed in BDR revolt in Bangladesh
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Feb 26, IRNA - At least 50 Bangladeshi army officers are feared dead in a mutiny after rebellious Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops opened fire on them over a pay dispute.
"We talked to the BDR troops and they said some 50 officers have been killed," Bangladesh's Deputy Law Minister Kamrul Islam told reporters outside the BDR Headquarters in Dhaka, PTI reported.
Nearly 20 members of the families of officers accompanied by Home Minister Sahara Kahatun emerged out of the complex and said that toll in the seige could rise as many families were still stranded inside.
Meanwhile, Hasina has called the meeting of her senior party leaders and cabinet ministers today to discuss the situation, a day after she offered amnesty to mutiny and assured to meet the demands of the rebel troops.
Tension also prevailed in the national capital even as some rebel troops have reportedly not surrendered.
The Bangladesh Rifles is entrusted with defending the 4,427 km border and with anti-smuggling operations. This force started in 1795 as ‘Ramgarh Local Battalion’. Later on, this force had been reshaped more in agency, name and uniform in accordance with the demand of the time. In 1799, the force established the first camp in Peelkhana named as ‘Special Reserve Company'.
Its members took up arms in an organized manner against the Pakistan Army during the liberation war of 1971.
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