BDR arsenals outside city sealed; officers leave camps

Most of the arsenals of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) sectors, battalions and companies were sealed soon after the paramilitary mutiny broke out at the BDR headquarters at Pilkhana yesterday, sources said.
Outside Dhaka, most of the senior BDR officials, deputed from army, left their camps after being informed of the mutiny in the capital, the sources added.
BDR has 46 battalions in 12 sectors while four of the battalions are in Dhaka.
All the BDR soldiers and officers across the country got tensed and panicked as the rebellious BDR personnel held the senior officials and their spouses hostages.
Meanwhile, some BDR personnel fired at least 25 blank shots in the border areas at Teknaf, Cox's Bazar around11:00pm last night triggering tense among the locals.
Our correspondent from Lalmonirhat reports: BDR soldiers of 22 outposts at Battalion-31 headquarters had desisted from their routine duty. They assembled at the outposts and observed the situation.
Sources of Battalion-31 said, the commanding officer (CO) and second-in-command of the camp abruptly left when the soldiers assembled at the main entrance and some others started moving around the camp.
Some BDR jawans said about seven hundred BDR soldiers at 22-BOP camps ceased their patrol in bordering areas when informed of the mutiny.
Contacted over phone at 5:00pm, Battalion-31 CO Lt Col Makbul Quader said he and all other officers and soldiers were, however, present in the camp and carried out their regular duties.
Our staff correspondent in Khulna reports: According to unconfirmed sources, eight officials of the army deputed to BDR left Goalkhali BDR sector headquarters around noon without any resistance from the jawans.
Contacted, the senior officials refused to make any comment whether Khulna BDR camp supported the revolt in Dhaka.
Our correspondent from Thakurgaon reports: CO of 20 Rifles Battalion Coll Shahed Kamal said after receiving the message on BDR headquarters incident, the arms depot had been sealed to avert any untoward incident.
Second-in-Command of 25, Rifles Battalion (Panchagarh) Major A K M Hasibul Hossain said the arsenal there had been under lock and key from morning.
Our staff correspondent at Rajshahi reports: Second-in-Command of Rajshahi Sector Major SM Rabiul Hasan said no unexpected incident occurred at all the camps under the sector.
However, he informed that he was out of his office due to an official visit to Chapainawabganj.
Our Correspondent from Bandarban reports: All arsenals were sealed in Naikkhangchhari and Balipara BDR zones. However, the routine activities in the district remained stopped.
Meanwhile, vehicles with heavy arms and army reinforcements were deployed near BDR set up areas.