Army surrounds BDR HQ as para-military soldiers revolt

Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Feb 25 (PTI) A rebellion broke out in the
para-military Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Headquarters in Pilkhana
area here and heavy firing was reported from the complex as
army was called out to quell the revolt.

There were reports of heavy gunfire from the complex
where a 'darbar' was on between senior officers of the force
and men, officials and witnesses said. A major fire was also
reported with heavy smoke rising from the complex.

BDR soldiers, according to reports, had opened fire on
their officers apparently in insurrection sparked by pay
disputes.

Some of the personnel also reportedly stormed out of
the complex and seized a nearby shopping complex, TV channels
reported.

Army and police surrounded the Headquarters while air
force helicopters hovered overhead the Pilkhana barracks in
central Dhaka. Heavy firing could be heard and smoke rising
from the complex, an army officer told PTI.

After ringing the BDR complex, Army issued a stern
warning calling on the mutinous soldiers to "surrender and to
go back to barracks."

Though there were no immediate reports about
casualties inside the BDR Headquarters, but relatives of BDR
soldiers inside the barrack said they came to know there were
heavy casualties.

One civilian was killed and scores injured in the
unfire outside the complex.

A statement issued by the Army Inter-Services Public
Relations told the BDR soldiers to lay down their weapons in
"greater interest of the country".

Army told the rebelling personnel that Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina would herself talk to BDR soldiers and listen to
their problems.

"Stern legal actions will be taken against you, if you
take law in your own hand even after this call," the army
warned the BDR personnel.

Eye-witnesses said law enforcement agencies were
clearing the streets giving rise to a speculation that there
could be an army crackdown to end the rebellion.

Military sources said that it was the rebellion of
non-commissioned officers and soldiers against their seniors.

Officials inside the BDR Headquarters could not be
reached as they kept their phone off as smoke billowed out of
the compound.

People were heard screaming, some of them apparently
in pain, as a senior BDR official opened his cell phone as he
was called by a journalist but did not speak.

"We are under siege, try to save us," another BDR
official briefly told another journalist and then hung up.

A local TV correspondent reporting live from the scene
said guards came out of their barracks and seized a conference
hall where the meeting was being held.

Several bystanders outside the complex were injured
and taken to state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Another private TV channel reported that one
unidentified rickshaw puller was killed and six people
including pedestrians were admitted to Dhaka Medical College
Hospital with bullet injuries as they were apparently passing
by the BDR barracks prompting police to stop vehicular
movement around the barracks.

After independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh
has had a history of coups and counter-coups.