The violence spread outside of the capital before it was contained. About fifty people died in Dhaka in the shooting on Wednesday, 25 February. The mutiny was undertaken by rebels of the paramilitary unit Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). The rebels began surrendering their weapons shortly after midnight to the Minister of the Interior after the Prime Minister had offered them amnesty.
Along the way, one hundred people were taken hostage by the rebels who mutinied against their superiors. Among the hostages were General Shakil Ahmed who commands the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles and dozens of other officers. Thousands of police and soldiers were called in for reinforcements around the headquarters. 800 students of Dhaka University, located nearby, were evacuated from their campus.
According to official sources, the shooting coincided with a meeting of senior officials of the BDR regarding the claims of some 3,000 to 4,000 men of the unit. According to the local press, the paramilitary BDR rose up in arms to get an increase in their salaries, subsidy for meals, and number of days off. These requests were earlier refused by Major General Shakil Ahmed.
Via Al Jazeera
