By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government has announced a reward of 50,000 Taka ($710) for the arrest of each of the 1,800 absconding Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers involved in the February mutiny.
“A sum of 50,000 Taka will be given in cash to anyone who can help the local police station or any law-enforcing agency to arrest any of the absconding BDR troopers involved in the carnage in the BDR headquarters,” said an official announcement Tuesday.
“The name and identity of the informer will remain secret,” it added.
Over 80 people, including 55 Bangladesh Army officers on deputation to the BDR, were killed in the two-day mutiny that was provoked by grievances over low salary and poor working conditions.
The Feb 25-26 revolt was led by “outside elements” who wanted to unleash a civil war, the government has claimed.
Minister for Commerce Faruk Khan, who is also the coordinator of the bodies formed to probe the BDR carnage, has said that some 1,800 BDR mutineers were still on the run, but the officials concerned have said that the number was around 900, New Age newspaper said.
The authorities are yet to complete the list of the BDR troopers who are still absconding in defiance of the government’s order.
A total of 910 BDR troopers have been arrested so far and over 150 of them have been remanded in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department which is investigating the rebellion.
Most of the arrests were based on the records provided by closed circuit television cameras, audio records and video footage, the newspaper said.