Bangladesh Seeks FBI Assistance In BDR Mutiny Investigation

Bangladesh Seeks FBI Assistance In BDR Mutiny Investigation

(NSI News Source Info) DHAKA - March 1, 2009: Bangladesh Sunday sought assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) to investigate the mutiny by soldiers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Wednesday. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers wait to report for duties in front of the BDR headquarters in Dhaka March 1, 2009. BDR soldiers who were absent from duty following the mutiny were given 24 hours to rejoin BDR at their respective headquarters or face lawful actions against them, according to the home ministry on Saturday. Hasina sought the assistance when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher telephoned her Sunday morning and offered assistance to the Bangladeshi government, according to a release of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. During the telephone conversation the prime minister observed that the BDR incident might be a part of conspiracy. She sought FBI assistance in the investigation to dig out real culprits and bring them to book. Earlier, U.S. embassy said Boucher telephoned Sheikh Hasina on behalf of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express continued support for the Bangladesh government and its people as they respond to the tragic aftermath of the BDR. The U.S. state department official reiterated the United States' willingness to render all possible assistance to the Bangladeshi government. Thousands of BDR soldiers staged revolted against their army officers on Wednesday leaving 64 army officers dead and 71 still missing. The revolt came to an end on Thursday evening after a series of negotiations between the mutinous soldiers and government officials.

Bangladesh Border Guards Mutiny Over Pay

Bangladesh Border Guards Mutiny Over Pay

(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Gun and mortar fire echoed across Bangladesh’s capital this morning as border guards mutinied against their superior officers and seized a shopping mall, apparently over a pay dispute. At least one person was killed and eight more were injured, according to a local hospital official. Flames were seen rising from the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles border guards and several loud blasts were heard as army troops entered the complex and surrounded the mall in a bid to crush the mutiny. A military helicopter was also seen hovering over the camp in Dhaka’s Pilkhana district as traffic ground to a halt in the immediate area and panic spread across the entire city. "There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at the headquarters. We have heard mortar fire," said Nabojit Khisa, the local police chief. The sound of gunfire in the capital initially raised fears of a military coup but local television reports said that the border guards had come out of their barracks chanting slogans for better pay and conditions and then seized a shopping mall and a conference hall, where officers were meeting. The television channel ETV reported that several bystanders had been hit by stray bullets. The fighting comes only a day after Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, visited the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters and urged the border guards to become “more disciplined and remain ever-ready to guard the country's frontiers”. A statement from the army said that the Government was urging the border guards to lay down their arms and return to barracks and was offering to hold talks over their demands. "Please end the indiscipline and violent activities immediately, drop your guns and return to the barracks," the statement said. "The Prime Minister will listen to your demands and meet them as much possible. Please resume order and end violence otherwise you will face (punitive) actions." Sajjad Haider, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Rifles, said: “The army has moved in to deal with the situation.” The mutiny is the most serious crisis yet for the newly elected Government, which came to power in December after two years of army-backed emergency rule.