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| last = | first = | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link =
| last = | first = | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link =
| title =বিডিআর জওয়ানদের বিদ্রোহ নিহতের সংখ্যা ১৫ বলে দাবি * মহাপরিচালক শাকিল বেঁচে নেই * জিম্মি কর্মকর্তাদের পরিণতি অজানা | newspaper = [[Prothom Alo]] | pages =1 | year =2009
| title =বিডিআর জওয়ানদের বিদ্রোহ নিহতের সংখ্যা ১৫ বলে দাবি * মহাপরিচালক শাকিল বেঁচে নেই * জিম্মি কর্মকর্তাদের পরিণতি অজানা | newspaper = [[Prothom Alo]] | pages =1 | year =2009
| date = 26 February | url = http://www.prothom-alo.com/index.news.details.php?nid=MjIxOTM=}}</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7911524.stm</ref> The mutiny has ended after the mutineers surrendered their arms and released the hostages.<ref>{{Citation
| date = 26 February | url = http://www.prothom-alo.com/index.news.details.php?nid=MjIxOTM=}}</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7911524.stm</ref> The mutiny ended after the mutineers surrendered their arms and released the hostages.<ref>{{Citation
| last = | first = | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link =
| last = | first = | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link =
| title =Bangladesh guard mutiny 'is over' | newspaper = BBC World | pages =1 | year =2009
| title =Bangladesh guard mutiny 'is over' | newspaper = BBC World | pages =1 | year =2009

Revision as of 16:10, 26 February 2009

2009 Bangladesh Rifles revolt
Date25 February 2009 – 26 February 2009
Location
Bangladesh
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
File:Bd army.png Bangladesh Army
File:RAB.jpg Rapid Action Battalion		 Bangladesh Rifles
Casualties and losses
13 killed[1] 5 killed[2]
3 civilians killed[3]
(50 soldiers and civilians killed overall)[4]

On February 25, 2009, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a Bangladeshi paramilitary force, started a rebellion in Dhaka. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles is situated in Pilkhana. More than a thousand BDR soldiers took over the BDR headquarters, and held many of their officers hostage. By the second day fighting spread to 12 other towns and cities.[5][6] The mutiny ended after the mutineers surrendered their arms and released the hostages.[7]



Day one: The revolt starts

The mutiny started on the second day of the yearly occasion "BDR Week"[8] which was earlier inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As the session began at the auditorium named as "Darbar Hall", when a number of jawans spoke against the higher ranked officials, while the BDR Director General Shakil Ahmed was making a speech. They demanded the removal of Army officials from BDR and equal rights for the BDR soldiers.[5] Soon they took the Director General and other senior officials as hostages inside the auditorium. They also prepared heavy artillery at the main entrance gates of the headquarters. The regular army and the Rapid Action Battalion tried to take command and took up a strong position at the opposite side of the gates, resulting in heavy gunfire and mortar attacks from the BDR mutineers.[9]

The Director General of the BDR, Major General Shakil Ahmed, was reported to have been killed during the revolt along with at least 12 other senior commanders of the BDR who were taken hostage.[10][5] At least three civilians were killed in the crossfire between the BDR and the regular army.[11]

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared a general amnesty for the rebels.[12]

Demands

Bangladesh Rifles soldiers had put a 22 point demand including the withdrawal of Army officers from their BDR. Instead they wanted the original BDR members to get promoted and take up the ranks. They demanded their officials to be educated and wanted the officials to be selected on the basis of Bangladesh Civil Service Examination. While speaking to private television networks, BDR Jawans alleged that senior officials of BDR were involved in corruption, directly accusing the Director General, his wife and the Deputy Director General of embezzling soldier wage bonuses from the Operation Dal-Bhaat Program and from extra duties in the General Elections held on December 29, 2008. Operation Dal-Bhaat was a welfare program run by the BDR to provide rice and other daily essentials to the poor people.[13] Other demands included 100 percent rationing, introduction of BDR soldiers in peacekeeping missions and the overall welfare of BDR members.[14]

Day two: The revolt spreads

Some reports from inside the BDR headquarters stated that the number of dead rose up to 50 by the second day. However, this was not independently confirmed.[15] In addition to the 13 officers and three civilians killed, it was confirmed that the bodies of five BDR personnel were found beside the river Buriganga.[16]

The home minister Sahara Khatun convinced the Jawans to give up their arms by assuring them that the Army would not go into the BDR headquarters.[8] As a result, the rebels began to surrender their arms and release the hostages.[12] However, as this was happening in Dhaka, revolts by other members of the BDR started in at least 12 other towns and cities. Fighting and takeovers by the BDR was reported in: Chittagong, at Feni, on the eastern border with India, in Rajshahi in the north-west, and Sylhet in the north.[17]

As of the very latest news, BDR outposts at more than 46 locations have been reported to have shown signs of great agitation. BDR jawans have claimed to have taken command of Jessor BDR garrison as well as major BDR establishments in Satkhira, Dinajpur, Naogaon and Netrokona.[18]

Mass media news tickers are confirming that the mutineers have overrun Khagrachari, Ramgar, Sylhet 22 sect and Jessor BDR regional HQs.

As per media tickers, the BDR members have again started surrendering their arms after the PM addressed the nation and reassured the BDR personnel that no action will be taken against them. But she also said that the mutineers of "harsh actions" if they don't immediately lay down their arms and cease all hostilities. [19] Following the speech of Sheikh Hasina, the army deployed tanks in front of the BDR headquarter.[20] After that, the mutineers surrendered their arms as described by the Media spokesman of the Prime Minister.[21]

References

  1. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601092&sid=aJ.Uo_r69CVI
  2. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090226/ids_photos_wl/r2868794759.jpg/
  3. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29381742/
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7911524.stm
  5. ^ a b c "বিডিআর জওয়ানদের বিদ্রোহ নিহতের সংখ্যা ১৫ বলে দাবি * মহাপরিচালক শাকিল বেঁচে নেই * জিম্মি কর্মকর্তাদের পরিণতি অজানা", Prothom Alo, p. 1, 26 February {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7911524.stm
  7. ^ "Bangladesh guard mutiny 'is over'", BBC World, p. 1, 26 February {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  8. ^ a b Saeed Ahmed (26 February 2009). "Dozens feared dead in Bangladesh mutiny". CNN.
  9. ^ Mark Dummett (26 February 2009). "Bangladesh becomes battle zone". BBC News.
  10. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601092&sid=aJ.Uo_r69CVI
  11. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29381742/
  12. ^ a b "Bangladesh mutineers lay down arms". Al Jazeera.net. 26 February 2009.
  13. ^ "BDR to open 25 more outlets in city Sunday", New Nation, 10 April {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  14. ^ "ক্ষুব্ধ জওয়ানদের দাবি ও নানা অভিযোগ", Prothom Alo, p. 1, 26 February {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  15. ^ "Fifty feared dead in Bangladesh". BBC News. 26 February 2009.
  16. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090226/ids_photos_wl/r2868794759.jpg/
  17. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7911524.stm
  18. ^ "Reports of BDR mutiny across the country". bdnews24.com. 26 February 2009.
  19. ^ "Go back to barracks right now or I'll take any step: PM". The Daily Star. 26 February 2009.
  20. ^ "Tanks deployed over Dhaka mutiny". BBC. 26 February 2009.
  21. ^ "Tanks deployed over Dhaka mutiny". Reuters. 26 February 2009.
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