38 more bodies found at BDR headquarters

Dhaka, Feb 27 (ANI): Thirty-eight more bodies were found on Friday during the rescue operation at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters.

Thirty-four of the bodies were recovered from a fifteen-feet-deep hole located beside the BDR hospital mortuary while the other four bodies were recovered from a sewage-filled canal off the headquarters.

Fifteen of the deceased were identified as Col Elahi, Col Muazzem, Col Emdad, Col Ensat, Col Ehsan, Maj Masum, Maj Rafiq, Maj Moshiur, Maj Haider, Maj Khalid, Col Latifur Rahman, Col Nakibur Rahman, Col Imam Shawkat, Lt Col Rabi Rahman and Maj Mahbub.

Relatives of missing officers gathered outside the gates of headquarters waiting for news on the fate of their family members.

Police maintained control outside the gates as distraught men and women sought answers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.

Expressing her deep shock at the incident, Hasina said the government is making all out efforts to rescue missing BDR members.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the people to hold patience keeping all faith in God.

The mutiny broke out on Wednesday morning following an altercation between the officers and men of Bangladesh Rifles over the pay and perks, conditions of service and other facilities, which they alleged, were discriminatory. The officers mostly are on deputation from Bangladesh Army.hey said they were angry that the officers, who are seconded from the army, had not raised their concerns with Hasina.

They demanded better pay, longer holidays and the right to join UN peacekeeping missions, for which Bangladesh is the second-biggest troop contributor after Pakistan.

BDR members earn 100 dollars a month, less than army soldiers, and receive food rations for three months of the year, compared with twelve for the army. (ANI)