Over 1,500 BDR men back before time

Over 1,500 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) men, who left the Pilkhana headquarters during or after the mutiny, reported back to the headquarters yesterday.
The deadline set for them to report back expired yesterday afternoon.
Apart from them, 140 BDR men reported to police stations, sector headquarters and battalion headquarters in Rajshahi, Sylhet Dinajpur, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Pabna, Barisal and Chittagong yesterday. Four BDR jawans surrendered at police stations in Sylhet and Joydevpur while Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two jawans in Comilla and Faridpur yesterday.
They started gathering at the Pilkhana headquarters following a home ministry order issued Saturday asking all BDR members, who did not take leave but are absent at their stations, to report back within 24 hours.
"I assume between 1,500 and 2,000 jawans gathered at the BDR headquarters. We do not have any official count yet," newly appointed Director General (DG) of BDR Brig Gen Moinul Hossain said.
"Those who have already entered the headquarters will be considered reported back. Some of them are being given leave while others will start working with us," he added.
A number of BDR jawans, who returned yesterday, said many of them were given 15 to 30 days' leave with instructions to come back to the headquarters when summoned. Only 24 BDR jawans were allowed to join work yesterday.
Talking to The Daily Star, a number of BDR jawans, who returned to the BDR headquarters in plain clothes, claimed that they left their uniforms in or around the headquarters before fleeing in plain clothes on Wednesday and Thursday.
They appeared to be very worried about their future and feared many innocent jawans could become victims if the enquiry is not conducted impartially. A number of them had their family members with them. They also looked anxious.
Those in uniform were asked to report at Gate-4 near Jigatola while the rest at Abahani ground in Dhanmondi. All of the BDR men in plain clothes at Abahani ground could not be listed as reported back yesterday; they were asked to come again this morning.
Around 500 BDR men reported back to the BDR headquarters with their uniforms on.
Talking to The Daily Star, the BDR jawans in uniform claimed that most of them had fled just after the mutiny broke out on Wednesday. Some of them were also on leave that day.
With his uniform on, Selim Mollah, a BDR jawan who was on duty at the office of the killed BDR director general, said, "I fled when I saw a group running and firing. I fled before they could catch me."
He said, "When the shooting started, BDR men on duty near the boundary walls and entrances fled immediately."
BDR jawan Reaz, in plain clothes, said, "I was forced to stand guard inside the headquarters compound while many others were also made to stand guard at gun point."
Riaz fled the Pilkhana headquarters around 3:00pm Thursday.
BDR jawan Prabir, who fled Thursday morning, said, "Had we been involved in any criminal activities we would not have dared to report back in plain clothes."
The home ministry, in a press note, also said actions will be taken against those who fail to report back to their stations within the stipulated time.
COUNTRYWIDE REPORT, SURRENDER AND ARREST
Our Comilla correspondent reports: Rab arrested Kowser Ali, a BDR jawan, early Sunday when he was trying to get away on a bus at Tiprabazar on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Meanwhile, Rab arrested BDR jawan Mohibul in Faridpur during his attempt to flee by a bus Saturday night. He was handed over to Faridpur police, said Maj Qutubur Rahman Sarkar, deputy commander of Rab-8.
Our staff correspondent in Rajshahi reports: At least 42 BDR soldiers reported to Rajshahi sector headquarters and three battalion headquarters in Rajshahi and Naogaon.
In Naogaon, 22 BDR men reported back. The rest reported to the Rajshahi sector and battalion headquarters, said Tarikul Islam, assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police.
Our staff correspondent in Sylhet reports: Fourteen BDR jawans have so far reported to the Sylhet sector headquarters.
Our Rangpur correspondent reports: A total of 23 BDR men reported to Rangpur sector headquarters yesterday.
Our Mymensingh correspondent reports: Around 60 BDR jawans reported to BDR Mymensingh sector headquarters yesterday.
Our Dinajpur correspondent reports: At least five BDR men reported to Dinajpur Police Station and the police sent them to Dinajpur BDR sector headquarters.
Our correspondent in Sirajganj reports: One BDR soldier surrendered to Tarash Police Station.
Our Barisal correspondent reports: Four BDR men reported to Barisal Police Station.
Our correspondent in Pabna reports: One BDR man reported to Chatmohar Police Station in Pabna Sunday.
Our staff correspondent in Chittagong reports: Five BDR jawans reported to police stations in Chittagong while four trainee jawans returned to their training camp in Baitul Ijjat in Chittagong yesterday. The four had fled the camp after mutiny broke out in Pilkhana headquarters.
NEW BDR CHIEF TO MEET OFFICERS
BDR officers, who have reported to station headquarters, Dhaka Cantonment, have been advised to meet the newly appointed director general of BDR at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment at 1:00pm tomorrow, said an ISPR release.