Bangladesh: Tanks move towards paramilitary base

Army tanks rolled toward the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles paramilitary force Thursday evening, with the government promising the restoration of peace and residents in the capital, Dhaka, fearing the worst. The country’s home minister, Sahara Khatun, said mutinous paramilitary troops who have been holding several high-ranking officers and military officials hostage since Wednesday were close to laying down their arms and many had returned to their barracks. “They have raised white flags and the situation is in its last stages,” added a government official who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media

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Bangladeshi mutineers release hostages

A dangerous hostage standoff ended Wednesday night after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with paramilitary border troops who had staged a mutiny. Members of the Bangladesh Rifles were holding at least 60 to 70 officers hostage after a gunbattle inside the Rifles’ headquarters in the capital, Dhaka, government officials said. The gunfire killed at least one person and wounded seven others — most of them bystanders struck by stray bullets, medical officials said.

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Apparent Bangladeshi mutiny kills one

A gunbattle inside the headquarters of Bangladesh’s border security force in the capital, Dhaka, killed a bystander and wounded seven others Wednesday. Authorities were unclear what prompted the gunbattle, but an information ministry spokesman told CNN that several members of the Bangladesh Rifles force apparently staged a rebellion against the head of the force.

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