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Bangladesh:Gunfight at BDR headquarters

Mutiny ends as tanks enter city: Police takes over Peelkhana armoury as BD




rebels surrender

11 bodies of army officials recovered: Fate of 127 still unknown

Friday February 27 2009 01:03:40 AM BDT

A mutiny by thousands of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) guards ended through their surrender yesterday, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned they were on a "suicidal" path that could only end in bloodshed, ending a 34-hour-long holdup at the besieged Headquarters.(The New Nation)

Hours after tanks rolled into the capital and the troops have taken to the streets in the city after 50 people were killed as mutinous soldiers fired weapons in a mutiny.

Sources said, at least 11 bodies were recovered out of 169 army officials who were reportedly taken hostage during the mutiny at the Pilkhana's in the BDR HQ. Some 20 army officers were released yesterday.

'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,' PM Sheikh Hasina said.

However, MP Meher Afroz Chumki told the reporters that no army officials had remained in BDR HQ.

"All the troops have surrendered their weapons and gone back to their barracks," the Prime Minister's spokesman, Abul Kalam Azad said.

The Armed Police Battalion took control of the armoury of the BDR Headquarters.

All the remaining hostages made since the mutiny began at the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka had been freed, he added.

Five teams were formed to rescue the hostages held inside the headquarters and ensure treatment of those injured in the bloody mutiny by the BDR lower orders. The rescuers already started their rescue operation and were pulling out the injured onto Red Crescent ambulances to ferry to hospitals, said another spokesman.

The team members are Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, Home Minister Sahara Khatun, State Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanok, parliament Whip Mirza Azam and Segupta Yasmin Emily and MPs Meher Afroz Chumki, Mahbub Ara Guinea and Waresat Hossain Belal.

The DAD Touhid Shubader has been made the acting Commander of BDR.

A source of Armed forces said about 127 army officials were still missing. At least 168 army officials with DG of BDR Shakil Ahmad were attending a meeting at Darbar Hall to celebrate the BDR week.

At least 50 people were feared killed in Wednesday's BDR revolt yesterday estimated State Minister for Law Advocate Quamrul Islam.

Some 20 army officers who had been kept as hostages in the BDR Headquarters since yesterday morning were released around 5:30pm yesterday.

Lt Col Rouf, Lt Col Salam, Lt Col Sayed Kamruzzaman, Col Shams, Col Sayed, Maj Masud, Maj Akram, Maj Jaman, Maj Mokhles, Maj Munir, Maj Yahia, Maj Aslam, Maj Mahbub, Maj Ali Ashraf, Maj Shah Alam, Maj Reaz, Maj Jalil and Maj Zahid are among them,

The guards agreed to lay down their weapons after the government assured them an amnesty and agreed to look into their demands. But tanks had to be sent in to the city in a show of force to convince the mutineers to give up their guns.

Six more bodies of yesterday mutiny at the BDR Headquarters were found this (Thursday) morning at sluice gate in front of Nawabganj Park near the headquarters in the capital.

Five of them were identified as Lt Col Anisuzzaman, Lt Col Kamruzzaman, Maj Mahbub, Col Zahid and Col Touhid. The identity of the other could not be known immediately.

Earlier, bodies of the two officers -- Col Mujibul Huq and Lt Col Enayetul Haq -- were recovered from a sewerage system outside the BDR headquarters. But their deaths were not officially declared till filing of this report in the yesterday evening.

Another source said additional Director General Brg. Abdul Bari also was killed by the BDR rebels.

As soon as the troops surrendered their arms, the army officers who were held hostage by the mutineers were seen leaving the building. They said that many of their colleagues had been killed in Wednesday's onslaught.

Regular army troops were moved closer to the BDR headquarters as authorities evacuated residents from 3-kilometre-radius of the compound and reinforced the deployment with tanks and heavy armoured vehicles.

The Bangladesh Army deployed tanks close to the headquarters of the border security force in the grip of a violent mutiny by renegade troops.

A military spokesman said the army sent the tanks and armoured personnel carriers close to the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles.

The soldiers' mutiny began early Wednesday at an annual meeting to allow soldiers to air their grievances to their officers. But the enlisted men, enraged over a pay dispute and alleged repression and corruption by commanders, took the officers hostage.

Several hundred mutineers then took control of artillery pieces and other heavy weapons inside the 2.6-square-kilometre compound, located in a densely populated residential area of Dhaka.

Al BDR personnel took part in the rebellion. The condition of many senior officers, including the Rifles chief, Major General Shakil Ahmed, was not known.

Police took control of BDR headquarters yesterday afternoon after the mutineers surrendered their arms and freed army officers and about 150 civilians taken hostages.

Several contingents of police were deployed in and around the border guards' headquarters. Policemen were seen guarding the five entrances.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed told The New Nation that entire BDR headquarters and its armoury were now under police control.

Police were also patrolling the areas around Pilkhana, deep dark surrounding has be fallen inside BDR HQ.

http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=249243
 
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This is one of the most shameful incident in Bangladesh Army History.I am glad we have complete unity in Pakistan Army and things like this does not happen there!

I am also glad that this kind of thing didn't happened with pak army. It's proved to be a discipline force but I am trying to make point here. If BDR gets it demand implemented out of this dreadful even than there might be some copycat who may try to repeat just to make a point. I know pak army is very close with Bd army so therefor I think pak army should analyze this ugly event and pay attention if there are any issue with Pak solders. Let this event be ultimate lesson for all of us and hope that it never happened again......
 
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Bangladesh army starts assault on rebel HQ

New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned rebel paramilitary troopers that they would face strong action if they didn’t lay down arms by Thursday.

The mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) that began in Dhaka on Wednesday spread around the country on Thursday, with shootings reported at several guard posts. The Bangladesh army has moved 11 tanks towards BDR headquarters. The army has asked people to move out of the areas around the sprawling BDR complex.

The government had asked BDR troopers to lay down arms by 1400 hrs IST but the rebels have asked for an extension and amnesty from Parliament.

Hasina, in a televised speech, said she would consider the demands of BDR troopers for better pay and amnesty but they first must surrender and “bring back discipline”.

“Don't kill your own brothers. This suicidal mission has to be stopped. We will find a solution to this problem with patience. Please help me,” Hasina urged the rebel troopers.

“Please to back to the barracks. If you don't, I will be forced to take tough action. Don't force me; it won’t be in the interest of you and the nation.”

Hasina announced that her government had formed a committee under Home Minister Sahara Khatun to study the demands made by BDR troopers.

“I did not want to bring any kind of force into the scene. I will take care of their demands in phases. I hope that no one will take drastic action which will result in more loss of lives. Don't do anything which will force me to take tough action”.

Hasina’s appeal came as officials confirmed that at least 77 people, including 67 Bangladesh army and BDR officials, had been killed in the mutiny since Wednesday.

Indian intelligence sources say that Jamaat-e-Islami, the hardline political party, is instigating and funding the rebels across country.

Indian intelligence sources say Salauddin Kader Chowdhury, former advisor to ex-PM Khaleda Zia, is the main figure behind funding of rebels.

These sources also say that some Bangladesh army officers, sidelined by army chief Moeen Ahmed, have joined hands with some Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.


http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hasina-warns-rebels-sets-deadline-for-surrender/86335-2.html
 
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On the basis of the above report we can assume that India had some role and is now influencing the situation to undermine the army.
 
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Indian BSF sent sms to BDR telling them, BSF would help to fight Bangladesh army.

Indian media has suggested to send Srilanka style peace mission by Indian forces.

More proof of Indian involvement will come. But according bdnews24 army and tank withdrawn from in and around Pilkhana.

Tanks leave Dhanmondi :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::
 
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Bangladesh army starts assault on rebel HQ

Indian intelligence sources say that Jamaat-e-Islami, the hardline political party, is instigating and funding the rebels across country.

Indian intelligence sources say Salauddin Kader Chowdhury, former advisor to ex-PM Khaleda Zia, is the main figure behind funding of rebels.

These sources also say that some Bangladesh army officers, sidelined by army chief Moeen Ahmed, have joined hands with some Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.


http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hasina-warns-rebels-sets-deadline-for-surrender/86335-2.html

Once again Indian bastard are poking their dirty nose in our internal matter. How come they knows all these for sure when Bd itself are still investigating. This so called Indian intelligence didn't even saw their own coming when 10 kids brought devastation to Mumbai. I will suggest them to pay attention to their own country and leave our internal matter to us. These bastard want to bring chaos to our nation to serve their purpose.
 
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Bangladesh army starts assault on rebel HQ



Indian intelligence sources say that Jamaat-e-Islami, the hardline political party, is instigating and funding the rebels across country.

Indian intelligence sources say Salauddin Kader Chowdhury, former advisor to ex-PM Khaleda Zia, is the main figure behind funding of rebels.

These sources also say that some Bangladesh army officers, sidelined by army chief Moeen Ahmed, have joined hands with some Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.


http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hasina-warns-rebels-sets-deadline-for-surrender/86335-2.html

That means that this was a military coup instigated by the enemies of Sheikh Hasina. Low pay and conditions frankly always sounded like bullcrap . The major reason was to take over armed control of Bangladesh and instigate a coup against the serving PM.
Frankly these guys should be tried for treason and made an example of.
 
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Indian peace mission signal

SUJAN DUTTA


New Delhi, Feb. 26: India is offering to send a peace mission beyond borders to give security to the Calcutta-Dhaka-Calcutta Moitree Express on an explicit request from Dhaka in the wake of the mutiny by soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles, highly placed sources in New Delhi have told The Telegraph.

As of today, the Moitree Express that runs between Calcutta and Dhaka is suspended — it runs between the two capitals on Saturdays and Sundays — because of the BDR uprising. Indian and Bangladeshi armies are currently engaged in a first joint training mission in Jalpaiguri for two weeks since February 22.

Yesterday, as two Indian goods trains that make a daily run to Darshana in Bangladesh to transport essential commodities were to enter Bangladesh, there was no one available at the BDR outposts beyond the border pillar to open the massive iron gates that would allow the trains into Bangladesh. The commanding officers of the BDR — actually army officers — had to clang open the gates themselves.

Since Sri Lanka, such a venture to Bangladesh would be the first international bilateral peace mission by India. The Indian Peacekeeping Force of the army to Sri Lanka got embroiled in a tragic war and was aborted at enormous cost to life and limb.

In this instance, India is considering paramilitary forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force, the Railway Protection Force or, if Dhaka agrees, even the Border Security Force, with the exclusive mandate of escorting the trains, protecting passengers and preventing damage to engines and rakes of the goods trains.


The train from Calcutta crosses the border after Gede in Bengal, passes through a metal carriageway, at the entrance for which the gates are opened by the Border Security Force on the Indian side, rolls over the tracks on no-man’s land, still through the metal cage at the end of which huge gates are opened by personnel of the Bangladesh Rifles for the train to enter into Bangladesh.

At this point, the security of the train is handed over from India’s Railway Protection Force to its Bangladeshi counterpart and for the border security to the Bangladesh Rifles.

In the proposal that is now being considered -- because the Bangladesh Army does not trust the Bangladesh Rifles and the Bangladesh Rifles has no confidence in its officers of the Bangladesh Army -- an Indian agency is offering to take over the responsibility.

For the UPA government in New Delhi and Sheikh Hasina’s government in Dhaka, it is a grand statement that local disputes will not be allowed to take bilateral and cultural linkages hostage. Pranab Mukherjee and Sheikh Hasina, personal acquaintances themselves, are understood to be considering the move seriously.

They have concluded it is not worth shutting down the train that has meant so much when it was opened on Poila Boishakh last April.

It also is an eloquent illustration of Manmohan Singh’s message to neighbours that India is willing to give friendly countries a stake in its development. The train is popular with Bangladeshis many of whom visit India for medical care.

Last year, there was a move from a hawkish section of the establishment in New Delhi to stop the train altogether when police alleged the hand of elements of the Harkat ul Jehad Ul Islam, based in Bangladesh, in blasts in Hyderabad. But a determined officer in Dhaka and the ambassador there put up a strong defence of continuing with the service.

Of the 538 km between Calcutta and Dhaka, 418 km is in Bangladesh and 120 km is in Bengal (India) but the symbolism it covers is greater than the distance.


The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Indian peace mission signal
 
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In the proposal that is now being considered -- because the Bangladesh Army does not trust the Bangladesh Rifles and the Bangladesh Rifles has no confidence in its officers of the Bangladesh Army -- an Indian agency is offering to take over the responsibility.

That gives clear motive why BDR army animosity was instigated by (now proving to be) India.
 
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That means that this was a military coup instigated by the enemies of Sheikh Hasina. Low pay and conditions frankly always sounded like bullcrap . The major reason was to take over armed control of Bangladesh and instigate a coup against the serving PM.
Frankly these guys should be tried for treason and made an example of.

What are you talking about? Do you actually believe this Indian propaganda crap? Whatever Indian intelligence says it is probably the opposite.
 
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Indian peace mission signal

SUJAN DUTTA


New Delhi, Feb. 26: India is offering to send a peace mission beyond borders to give security to the Calcutta-Dhaka-Calcutta Moitree Express on an explicit request from Dhaka in the wake of the mutiny by soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles, highly placed sources in New Delhi have told The Telegraph.

As of today, the Moitree Express that runs between Calcutta and Dhaka is suspended — it runs between the two capitals on Saturdays and Sundays — because of the BDR uprising. Indian and Bangladeshi armies are currently engaged in a first joint training mission in Jalpaiguri for two weeks since February 22.

Yesterday, as two Indian goods trains that make a daily run to Darshana in Bangladesh to transport essential commodities were to enter Bangladesh, there was no one available at the BDR outposts beyond the border pillar to open the massive iron gates that would allow the trains into Bangladesh. The commanding officers of the BDR — actually army officers — had to clang open the gates themselves.

Since Sri Lanka, such a venture to Bangladesh would be the first international bilateral peace mission by India. The Indian Peacekeeping Force of the army to Sri Lanka got embroiled in a tragic war and was aborted at enormous cost to life and limb.

In this instance, India is considering paramilitary forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force, the Railway Protection Force or, if Dhaka agrees, even the Border Security Force, with the exclusive mandate of escorting the trains, protecting passengers and preventing damage to engines and rakes of the goods trains.


The train from Calcutta crosses the border after Gede in Bengal, passes through a metal carriageway, at the entrance for which the gates are opened by the Border Security Force on the Indian side, rolls over the tracks on no-man’s land, still through the metal cage at the end of which huge gates are opened by personnel of the Bangladesh Rifles for the train to enter into Bangladesh.

At this point, the security of the train is handed over from India’s Railway Protection Force to its Bangladeshi counterpart and for the border security to the Bangladesh Rifles.

In the proposal that is now being considered -- because the Bangladesh Army does not trust the Bangladesh Rifles and the Bangladesh Rifles has no confidence in its officers of the Bangladesh Army -- an Indian agency is offering to take over the responsibility.

For the UPA government in New Delhi and Sheikh Hasina’s government in Dhaka, it is a grand statement that local disputes will not be allowed to take bilateral and cultural linkages hostage. Pranab Mukherjee and Sheikh Hasina, personal acquaintances themselves, are understood to be considering the move seriously.

They have concluded it is not worth shutting down the train that has meant so much when it was opened on Poila Boishakh last April.

It also is an eloquent illustration of Manmohan Singh’s message to neighbours that India is willing to give friendly countries a stake in its development. The train is popular with Bangladeshis many of whom visit India for medical care.

Last year, there was a move from a hawkish section of the establishment in New Delhi to stop the train altogether when police alleged the hand of elements of the Harkat ul Jehad Ul Islam, based in Bangladesh, in blasts in Hyderabad. But a determined officer in Dhaka and the ambassador there put up a strong defence of continuing with the service.

Of the 538 km between Calcutta and Dhaka, 418 km is in Bangladesh and 120 km is in Bengal (India) but the symbolism it covers is greater than the distance.


The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Indian peace mission signal

Awami should not allow such peace mission. If done so than awami may just want to commit suicide because this will cause back flash. This will also undermine our armed force and send a signal that Bd isn't capable of protecting itself. If anything we should recall all of our arm personal from peace mission. Unacceptable under any circumstances....
 
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We all know what happened to the IPKF mission in Sri Lanka. This would be much worse for India. We now certainly cannot give them transit.
 
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No way Indians should be allowed into BD territory.If needed,send the army into the border.This is seriously fishy,investigation should be done thoroughly,as I get the feeling Indian Intelligence definitely had a hand in this.
If they knew,who was funding rebels,then why didn't they inform the Bangladeshi Intelligence.Why did they let this thing happen?From the looks of things,this was pre-planned,so the Indian Intel might have had knowledge about it.
Now this offer just strengthen my suspicion.We are really facing one of the most toughest time in our history.May Allah protect us.
 
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BDR chief killed in hail of bullets
Survivors of mutiny speak of horror
Staff Correspondent

Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of BDR, died in a hail of bullets within 10 minutes after the shooting began at the Pilkhana darbar hall Wednesday morning, confirmed Lt Col Syed Kamruzzaman, who survived the killing-spree of border troops.

Speaking at a press briefing at the staff college officers' mess in Mirpur Cantonment late last night, he narrated how he was saved by 'a few good jawans'.

As a band of paramilitaries wearing red bandanas opened fire inside darbar at around 9:45am, Kamruzzaman and 11 other officers including the DG took shelter in corners of the stage.

After around five minutes, some jawans ordered them to come out and walk in a line led by the DG.

"As the DG climbed down the stairs of darbar hall, one jawan sprayed him with bullets. Soon the other jawans there started firing on us,"
said Kamruzzaman.

“I dived on the ground after a bullet hit me in the stomach. Somehow I managed to crawl myself inside a washroom. A few minutes later, some jawans found that I was hiding in a toilet. They fired a volley of shots at me, but miraculously none hit me," he went on.

"As one jawan pointed his gun at my chest, in desperation I hugged him tightly and asked, “Why will you kill me? What harm did I do to you?

"I don't know what occurred to them. They said, 'Ok. We won't kill you.' They took me to another place and kept me hidden from others."

Lt Col Kamruzzaman, general staff officer 1 (communication), said when the jawans were taking him to safety he saw bodies of Major General Shakil Ahmed, Brig Bari, Col Moshiur, Col Zahid, Col Anis, Col Emdad and Lt Col Ershad.

He said over 160 officers were in the darbar hall when the madness set in. He however could not say what happened to others.

He said as another group spotted him a few hours before the end of mutiny, he told them that it was their men who hid him there.

"They told me, 'Ok, we'll spare you, but you have to run as we order. As I started zigzagging down the lawn, some armed jawans attempted to shoot at me. But the ones who saved me first came to my rescue again. They took me to the quarter guardroom from where I was finally rescued,"
Kamruzzaman said.

At the same briefing, Major Monir described how he cheated death hiding in a drain and then inside false ceiling of the darbar hall for almost two days.

"I watched helpless as jawans killed other officers," he said.

Col Asif, Lt Col Yasmin and her husband AKM Arifur Rahman, a district judge of Dhaka, spoke in the briefing.

They claimed that the BDR men looted valuables from almost all households.


The Daily Star - Details News

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Such hatred can only be fueled by some external force.Army will certainly not leave these people,I believe.There were two groups within mutineers,one which killed and the other didn't know much about killing.There is another who did not want the mutiny and as a result were killed.
 
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Another ridiculous thing.. When they got in they only found 200 soldiers inside and everybody else fled???? what a failure!!! why army and other forces were not deployed so that nobody could get in or out???? I am still wondering!!!

There are many thing that are hidden from us,the Army will not let us know.And probably we will never know.
 
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