250 BDR men under Dinajpur Sector marked as mutineers

They fired 3,288 bullets on February 26

20 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

At least 250 members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have been identified as involved in February 26 disorderly act in Dinajpur BDR Sector headquarters and four battalions under it when at least 3,288 bullets were fired. The culprits were identified with the help of snaps and video footages taken by print and electronic media, BDR sources said, adding that they sought home ministry's permission to file sedition cases against the 250 BDR men. Thirteen of the BDR men, who fled soon after the incident, are yet to return to their jobs, said BDR officials in Dinajpur Sector. Primary investigations by BDR officials and Dinajpur district administration revealed that the deputy assistant directors (DADs) of these battalions had led the BDR discipline-breakers. As the unruly BDR men fired a number of bullets, panic spread among the villagers in areas around headquarters of BDR Dinajpur Sector and the four battalions under it -- Dinajpur-2, Phulbari-40, Thakurgaon-20, and Joypurhat-3. As tension among the BDR men was quelled, Dinajpur police administration took over temporary charge of the four battalions under Dinajpur Sector on February 28 and sealed off their armours. Counting of the bullets and arms of BDR sector and battalion headquarters, however, confirmed that no arms were missing. Recently BDR officials took charge of Dinajpur Sector and the four battalions under it and checked condition of the armours.