KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Nearly 50 people were kiled in Bangladesh after border guards staged an armed mutiny, a government minister said in Dhaka, according to reports. [break]
"Nearly 50 people have been killed in sporadic fighting," Mohammad Quamrul Islam, state minister for law and parliamentary affairs, told reporters Thursday morning outside the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka.
Exactly how many people were killed and injured remains unclear. A number of passersby were injured when they were caught in the crossfire.
Islam visited the headquarters complex along with Home Minister Sahara Khatun to observe the disarmament process of the rebel soldiers, Chinese news agency Xinhua said.
"We have arranged safe exit of those who were trapped inside the BDR headquarters," Islam said.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had offered a general amnesty to the mutinous border guards in a bid to end their rebellion.
Hasina met with 14 of the renegade troops at her office in Dhaka after they were escorted there from their headquarters.
Border guards have begun laying down arms and releasing women and children, hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered the troops a general amnesty, BBC reported.
The mutiny was said to be over pay conditions and career advancement. The prime minister said she would look into their grievances over pay and conditions.
Mutineers begin to surrender
Meanwhile, The Associated Press (AP) reportes from Dhaka, Thursday:
Bangladesh´s Home Minister Shahara Khatun says Bangladeshi border guards have begun surrendering following a 20-hour mutiny to demand better pay.
The surrender began before dawn Thursday in the presence of Khatun and senior police officials at the Dhaka headquarters of Bangladesh Rifles — the official name of the paramilitary border guards. TV reports showed guards filing out of buildings in the compound and laying down arms, one by one.
The guards stormed the headquarters and opened fire on superior officers Wednesday, but agreed to surrender after the government said it would grant them amnesty and discuss their demands.
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