Bangladesh's border security force has mutinied in the capital Dhaka, triggering a gun battle that has resulted in several casualties, private TV stations have reported.
Soldiers belonging to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), headquartered in Dhaka's Pilkhana area, chanted slogans for more pay and better facilities, reported Bangla Vision and ETV on Wednesday.
Unconfirmed reports said Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of the BDR, had been taken hostage by the soldiers.
Other unconfirmed reports said several officers were killed in the munity and that Ahmed was among the dead.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources confirmed that at least six people were brought in with gun shot in
juries.
A rickshaw puller died from bullet wounds sustained in the crossfire.
Nicholas Haque, reporting for Al Jazeera from Dhaka, said there had been heavy fighting since the morning. "The fighting broke out apparently this morning during a meeting between junior and senior officers. There is panic on the streets right now. No-one is clear about what's happening," he said.
"There is no security, no police, there is no-one outside the compound there are just civilians apart from the army pointing their guns towards
Nabojit Khisa, a local police chief, said: "There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at BDR headquarters
complex this morning. We have heard mortar fire."
Officials said that the army has been called in to bring the situation under control.
The fighting occurred a day after newly elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the headquarters and addressed the troops, urging them to become "more disciplined and remain ever ready to guard the country's frontiers".
Courtesy: Al Jazeera....more and AP
Unconfirmed reports said Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of the BDR, had been taken hostage by the soldiers.
Other unconfirmed reports said several officers were killed in the munity and that Ahmed was among the dead.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources confirmed that at least six people were brought in with gun shot in
juries.A rickshaw puller died from bullet wounds sustained in the crossfire.
Nicholas Haque, reporting for Al Jazeera from Dhaka, said there had been heavy fighting since the morning. "The fighting broke out apparently this morning during a meeting between junior and senior officers. There is panic on the streets right now. No-one is clear about what's happening," he said.
"There is no security, no police, there is no-one outside the compound there are just civilians apart from the army pointing their guns towards
Nabojit Khisa, a local police chief, said: "There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at BDR headquarters
complex this morning. We have heard mortar fire."Officials said that the army has been called in to bring the situation under control.
The fighting occurred a day after newly elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the headquarters and addressed the troops, urging them to become "more disciplined and remain ever ready to guard the country's frontiers".
Courtesy: Al Jazeera....more and AP
Bangladesh is now very near to miltary coup. I am afraid that it may be end of democratically elected government. This is a very good opportunity for Bangladesh army to upsurp power.
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Aftab Ahmad,
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Military coup that soon? Why ?
I thought, Military rule had been lifted off only recently, prior to the Presidential election.
However, in those problematic region, I guess, anything can happen.