Dhaka under siege, one killed, six injured in gun battle in BDR headquarters

Dhaka, Feb 25 (ANI): One person was killed and six others were injured after a fierce gun battle broke out between officers and personnel inside the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) here on Wednesday.

Official sources confirmed that a mutiny has taken place, and there were unconfirmed reports that the chief of the BDR, Major General Shakil Ahmed, had been killed.

According to the sources, the mutiny coincided with a meeting of senior Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) officers at the Pilkhana area headquarters.

The gun battle commenced a little after nine a.m. local time, and was still underway. An army helicopter patrolling above the barracks was fired at, and mortar rounds were also fired.

The army and the police have been pressed into service and streets have been blocked in and around the BDR headquarters. Shops in the area have also been to close down.

The incident took place a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the BDR headquarters to give away medals to personnel of the force.

In a statement, the Bangladeshi Army called on the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops to "surrender arms and go back to the barracks."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's newly elected government urged the revolting border guards to lay down their arms and return to barracks, offering to hold talks over their demands, said a statement from the Bangladesh military. (ANI)