Show of force ends Bangladesh mutiny

February 27, 2009|Associated Press

DHAKA, Bangladesh - Tanks rolled through the Bangladeshi capital yesterday in a show of force that finally persuaded mutinous border guards to lay down their arms, ending a two-day revolt that threatened to spread across the impoverished South Asian nation.

At least 11 were killed, including three civilians, in the insurrection after the nearly 2,000 guards opened fire on their senior officers and seized their headquarters to protest poor pay and conditions.

Concerned about reports of dozens still missing, firefighters searched the area for bodies into the early hours today.

One officer said he saw the killing of the chief of the border security force, Major General Shakil Ahmed, immediately after the mutiny began on Wednesday.

"I was confronted by the soldiers three times, but I have survived," the officer, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kamruzzaman, told ATN Bangla television station. "Allah has saved me from the face of death." Authorities did not make any statement about the chief's whereabouts.

The mutinous guards had agreed to surrender after the government on Wednesday promised them an amnesty and agreed to look into their demands.

But as the process stalled and the revolt appeared to be spreading to other areas yesterday, recently elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned the rebels she would "do whatever is needed to end the violence."

Hours later, tanks and armored vehicles with heavy machine guns rolled into the capital, taking up positions in residential neighborhoods around the border guards' compound.

Apparently intimidated, the guards hoisted a white flag yesterday afternoon and resumed laying down arms.