A Bangladeshi government minister says nearly 50 people are feared dead
after border guards staged an armed mutiny in the capital, Dhaka,
Wednesday.
Kamrul Islam, state minister for law, told reporters Thursday that the
deaths occurred during a stand-off inside the border guards'
headquarters in the capital, Dhaka.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh's government granted amnesty to the mutineers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to pardon the guards, known as The
Bangladesh Rifles, in exchange for their peaceful return to their
barracks.
One of the rebel representatives said they will surrender their weapons
Thursday because the prime minister has agreed to look into their
demands. They include better pay and the removal of army officers from
command of the Bangladesh Rifles.
A government spokesman told VOA that in exchange for a promise to end
the mutiny, the rebels will not be charged and their grievances will be
addressed.
Bangladesh border guards' main job is to guard the country's borders but the guards are also a back up for the army and police.
We have the latest news from our Dhaka Stringer , Amir Khasru
