By Xinhua,
Dhaka : UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon expressed his distress at the mounting death toll in the violent two-day mutiny by troopers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).
He condemned such brutal acts of violence and extended his deepest sympathies to the victims, to their families and to the people and government of Bangladesh, a release from the UN office in Dhaka said Saturday.
The secretary general called for “calm and the resolution of this situation without further violence”, the release said.
The UN organisations in Bangladesh also extended their most profound sympathies to all those affected by these barbarous acts of violence, and to the people and government of Bangladesh during this time of intense shock and unfathomable grief.
“We pray for the departed souls that they may rest in peace. And we hope that all will unite to help the recovery from this national tragedy in a spirit of peace and national oneness, for the good of the nation,” the release added.
Thousands of BDR troopers staged a bloody revolt against their commanding officers deputed from the army over pay and other benefits Wednesday morning.
The mutiny ended late Thursday when the rebels laid down their arms after an amnesty offer, made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina late Wednesday, was followed by threats of stronger action as regular troops backed by tanks surrounded the BDR complex in Dhaka.
The search team has so far recovered over 80 bodies, including the body of BDR chief Shakil Ahmed. Around 50 army officers were still missing.