AgenciesDhaka: A mutiny in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) was quelled on Wednesday as Premier Sheikh Hasina granted a "general amnesty" to rebel soldiers, hours after the rebels demanding pay hike stormed their headquarters here and opened fire on senior officers leaving three people dead.
"The Prime Minister granted them (BDR soldiers) a general amnesty," State Minister for Local Government Ministry, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, told reporters. His remarks follow a meeting between Hasina and a 14-member delegation of the rebel BDR soldiers at the Premier's official Jamuna residence here.
Hasina also asked the BDR soldiers to immediately go back to the barracks laying down their weapons while assuring them of considering their demands with sympathy in phases. "We have promised to lay down weapons ... (as) she assured us of solving our problems in phases," BDR delegation spokesman Tauhid said after talks with Hasina.
The rebellion erupted during a 'Darbar' or meeting between senior officers and soldiers, where sources said the lower-rank troops got agitated alleging that the top brass had not taken up their grievances relating to pay hike, promotions and to make the paramilitary force an autonomous body with Hasina when she visited the headquarters a day earlier.
The mutinying soldiers took their superiors, including BDR Director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, hostage and opened fire inside the headquarters.
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