Bangladesh News

8:30am: The yearly Darbar (assembly) of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) begins at the Darbar Hall at the BDR headquarters in capital’s Pilkhana marking the BDR Week. Many BDR officers and jawans from all over the country attend the meeting.

9:00-9:30am: Mutiny breaks out when the BDR jawans at the meeting raise their demands before the officers who decline to meet those, sparking a fierce gun battle between the officers and jawans at the headquarters.

The mutineers take many high-ups including the BDR director general hostage and take control of the headquarters within a few minutes, BDR jawans told The Daily Star. They spray bullets indiscriminately on the headquarters compound.

9:30-10:00am: A person is hit by a bullet in the head on his way to the BDR hospital inside the headquarters during the gun battle. He dies on the spot. Five other people including a BDR member, who sustained bullet injuries, are rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Members of Rapid Action Battalion reach the spot.

10:30-11:30am: Panic grips the people of the surrounding areas and vehicular movement on nearby roads comes to a halt. Shops and schools in the area are closed down. Army personnel reach the spot and take positions at various points. A helicopter patrols above the headquarters and returns in the face of indiscriminate firing from the BDR rebels.

12:30-1:00pm: State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Jatiya Sangsad Whip Mirza Azam arrives at the BDR headquarters to hold talks with the mutineers. Nanak requests the BDR rebels by a loudhailer to halt firing for the sake of BDR’s image.

1:00-3:00pm: The mutineers talk to reporters of various TV channels and newspapers demanding an end to the army’s control over the BDR. They demand withdrawal of army personnel from areas around the headquarters and also talks with the prime minister and the home minister.

Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mirza Azam enter the BDR headquarters with a white flag. Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun also enters the BDR headquarters.

3:40pm: A team of 14 BDR members reaches the prime minister’s official residence Jamuna for talks.

6:00pm: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announces amnesty for the rebel BDR soldiers after holding a meeting with the team, Nanak tells journalists.

7:30pm: The BDR mutineers stop firing and many injured including women and children come out of the BDR headquarters.