DHAKA, BANGLADESH: Many of the families evicted from their homes during the fighting earlier this week are still trapped outside the gates.

Photo of Dhaka by Akhlaque Haque

UPDATED: 11 March 2009

DHAKA, BANGLADESH: The police quelled a violent mutiny by thousands of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a paramilitary border defense force. Their uprising lasted only 34 hours, but already rescue workers have uncovered dozens of bodies in sewers, drain pips, and shallow graves. Most of the dead were military personnel who were held hostage during the mutiny.

The mutiny began Tuesday when armed BDR fighters seized the BDR headquarters building in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Army evacuated a 3km radius around the BDR HQ and reinforced the siege with tanks and heavy artillery.

‘Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks. Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience beyond tolerable limits,’ PM Sheikh Hasina said.

The tension rapidly spread around the country. Fighting was reported in at least 15 other BDR bases. The BDR’s big beef is that their leadership comes from the army and police corpse, and not from promotion through the BDR ranks. They would like to be lead by their own. They are also looking for higher wages and the freedom to accept better paying UN Peacekeeping missions.

The BDR mutineers held out until they had a government assurance of amnesty and a promise to look into their demands.

Many of the hostages are still mssing.

New Nation article: Mutiny ends as tanks enter city: Police takes over Peelkhana armoury as BDR rebels surrender: 11 bodies of army officials recovered: Fate of 127 still unknown

BDNews24.com article: Mutiny ends as rebels retreat, police enter