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Bangladesh guard mutiny 'spreads' Bangladesh guard mutiny 'spreads'
(10 minutes later)
The mutiny by paramilitary troops in Bangladesh has spread to towns outside the capital, Dhaka, reports say. A mutiny by paramilitary troops in Dhaka has spread to towns outside the Bangladeshi capital, reports say.
The spread of the mutiny was being reported even as troops in Dhaka began laying down their arms, leaving their base and releasing hostages. Heavy gunfire has also resumed at a border guards barracks in Dhaka, where mutineers were said to be laying down their arms after a day of violence.
Nearly 50 people are feared dead in Dhaka after border guards staged an armed mutiny on Wednesday. Nearly 50 people are thought to have died on Wednesday as the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) staged an armed mutiny, said to be over pay and conditions.
The mutiny was said to be over pay conditions. The government has offered the troops a general amnesty. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is due to address the nation later.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka says that reports are coming in that the mutiny, which erupted without warning on Wednesday morning at the headquarters of Bangladesh border force in Dhaka, has spread to other towns in the country. The government had offered the troops a general amnesty, and Mrs Hasina promised to look into the soldiers' grievances.
The mutineers seized the military barracks in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka on Wednesday morning, reportedly taking more than 100 people hostage and killing nearly 50, officials said.
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There are reports of rank and file soldiers seizing control of their barracks and camps in at least 12 different towns and cities since early on Thursday.
Bangladesh becomes battle zone
The Bangladesh Rifles or BDR has 45,000 men stationed at 42 camps across the country.The Bangladesh Rifles or BDR has 45,000 men stationed at 42 camps across the country.
Seizing control
There are reports of rank and file soldiers seizing control of their barracks and camps in at least 12 different towns and cities since early on Thursday, our correspondent says.
In some cases, the border guards have taken their officers hostage, and in others they have forced them to leave, reports say.In some cases, the border guards have taken their officers hostage, and in others they have forced them to leave, reports say.
Some mutineers have told the BBC over the telephone that they have taken up arms, fearing that regular army units had been ordered to disarm them. Some mutineers told the BBC that they had taken up arms over fears that regular army units had been ordered to disarm them.
Our correspondent says that there are unconfirmed reports of gunfire in the main port city of Chittagong, at Feni, on the eastern border with India, in Rajshahi in the north west, and Sylhet in the north. There are unconfirmed reports of gunfire in the main port city of Chittagong, at Feni, on the eastern border with India, in Rajshahi in the north west, and Sylhet in the north.
A man claiming to be a BDR soldier in Chittagong said they had opened fire to prevent regular army units from entering their camp, unconfirmed reports say.A man claiming to be a BDR soldier in Chittagong said they had opened fire to prevent regular army units from entering their camp, unconfirmed reports say.
Another report said similar incidents had occurred at Cox's Bazaar and Feni.Another report said similar incidents had occurred at Cox's Bazaar and Feni.
In Khulna in the south, border guards have reportedly blocked a road, but no shooting has taken place.In Khulna in the south, border guards have reportedly blocked a road, but no shooting has taken place.
The police chief in the north-eastern Moulivibazar district told the AFP news agency that the border guards were "firing indiscriminately".The police chief in the north-eastern Moulivibazar district told the AFP news agency that the border guards were "firing indiscriminately".
"Their commanding officer told me that he has fled the camp.""Their commanding officer told me that he has fled the camp."
There are no reports so far of any casualties in these reported incidents.There are no reports so far of any casualties in these reported incidents.
'No reprisals'
Bangladesh state minister for law and parliamentary affairs Mohammad Quamrul Islam told reporters that nearly 50 people had been killed in "sporadic fighting" during the mutiny in Dhaka on Wednesday. Bangladesh becomes battle zone
Border guards began laying down arms at the BDR headquarters after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered the troops a general amnesty.
The mutiny was said to be over pay conditions and career advancement.
Sheikh Hasina and senior ministers met 14 BDR representatives at her office late on Wednesday after they were escorted there from their headquarters.
The prime minister offered the general amnesty and urged the paramilitaries to set free officers they had taken hostage.
She said she would look into their grievances over pay and conditions.
"The guards have begun surrendering arms after we have offered amnesty to them," said Home Minister Shahara Khatun.
"The prime minster has granted a general amnesty to them and they should not fear any reprisals," said Mr Khatun.
About 50 women and children, mainly family members of officers attacked during the mutiny, have also left the compound.About 50 women and children, mainly family members of officers attacked during the mutiny, have also left the compound.
However, Deputy Law Minister Kamrul Islam said the situation remained tense, as thousands of armed troops were believed to still be in the BDR headquarters.However, Deputy Law Minister Kamrul Islam said the situation remained tense, as thousands of armed troops were believed to still be in the BDR headquarters.
"We are preparing to go inside the compound again and quicken the surrender process," said Mr Islam."We are preparing to go inside the compound again and quicken the surrender process," said Mr Islam.
Caught in crossfire Speaking on Wednesday, one of the mutineers in Dhaka told the BBC that the guards had had to take up arms to resolve problems with their officers.
The mutineers seized the military barracks in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka on Wednesday morning, reportedly taking more than 100 people hostage.
Thousands of police and troops were deployed outside the compound to try to quell the mutiny and the rebels battled troops for several hours.
Exactly how many people were killed and injured remains unclear. A number of passersby were injured when they were caught in the crossfire.
The fate of all the hostages has also not been confirmed. The bodies of two senior officers seized by the renegade guards were discovered dumped in a drain outside the camp earlier on Wednesday.
One of the mutineers told the BBC that the guards had had to take up arms to resolve problems with their officers.
"Our families might suffer because of what we have done, but they have been exploiting us for more than 200 years," the man said."Our families might suffer because of what we have done, but they have been exploiting us for more than 200 years," the man said.
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