国际英语新闻：Mutinous soldiers in Bangladesh surrender as police control their Headquarters

DHAKA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The mutinous soldiers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) all laid down their arms while Bangladesh's Armed Police and elite-force RAB took control of the BDR Headquarters Thursday evening, officials said.

    Situation is now under full control of the government as the mutinous soldiers surrendered their arms, Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary of Bangladesh's prime minister told reporters.

    Abdul Mannan, a MP of ruling party Awami League who went inside the BDR Headquarters, also told reporters outside the complex that the mutineers have all surrendered.

    "The government has asked the discipline-violator BDR members at various places in the country to go back into discipline," Azad said.

A tank moves toward the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Feb 26, 2009.BDR all laid down their arms while Bangladesh's Armed Police and elite-force RAB have entered the besieged BDR Headquarters Thursday evening, officials said

Witnesses said, the Armed Police and elite-force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) entered the besieged BDR Headquarters in west of the capital Dhaka city.

    The police and RAB have taken control of the headquarters as the mutineers flew white flag, private news agency UNB reported.

    Meanwhile, several contingents of police were deployed in and around the BDR Headquarters.

    Nearly 150 people, including women and children and some 20 army officers, have been freed from the headquarters until Thursday evening, another private news agency reported.

    Five teams were formed to rescue the hostages held inside the headquarters and ensure treatment of those injured in the bloody mutiny on Wednesday morning by the BDR soldiers, according to UNB.

    However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed told Xinhua that some 137 army officers remain missing while nine were confirmed killed.

    Bangladesh's State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam earlier said more or less 50 people were killed during the mutiny. But the number of army officers who were killed was not available.

    Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday afternoon when addressing the nation said her government will be bound to take stern action if the mutinous soldiers don't surrender and go back to their barracks right this moment.

    "We have already formed a high-powered committee headed by home minister to address the demands of the BDR soldiers," Hasina said.

    The prime minister, whose government faced with this grave crisis only after its 50 days in office, reaffirmed a general amnesty for the mutineers that she announced on Wednesday in a meeting with the rebel representatives.

    Thousands of BDR soldiers, whose primary task is guarding the Bangladesh frontier with India and Myanmar, staged a bloody revolt at their headquarters on Wednesday morning to press for their demands concerning their salary and other benefits.

    They in the morning opened fire at the army officers, who commanded the BDR soldiers on deputation, complaining that they are mistreated by the officers.

    Besides, local reports said following Wednesday's mutiny in Dhaka, troubles broke out in many BDR camps across the country while gun fires erupted in some places.