Ring leader of BDR revolt arrested; troops launch manhunt

Dhaka: A senior officer of Bangladesh paramilitary force, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who is suspected to have led the bloody rebellion, was on Monday arrested while attempting to flee the country as the army launched a massive hunt for about 1,000 fugitives facing murder charges.

Deputy Assistant Director of the BDR Touhidul Alam who led a rebel delegation in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been taken into custody while attempting to flee the country, said Nabo Jyoti Khisha, the chief of Lalbagh police station where a case has been filed.

"The massacre took place under his (Alam's) leadership. The rebels had accepted him as their leader," Khisha said.

Police claimed that they have gathered "enough evidence" against Alam and other conspirators of the two-day mutiny during which 73 army officers were killed while 72 are still missing.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told Parliament after the 24-hour deadline given to the absconders to surrender, "I have summoned the army and other forces to hunt them (BDR rebels).”

Home Minister Shahara Khatoon said the soldiers are helping the police and local authorities and will continue "as long as necessary".

In a bid to unravel the conspiracy behind the rebellion, Hasina sought the assistance of American and British investigating agencies – FBI and Scotland Yard – to help probe the massacre, as authorities said they have discovered another mass grave in the BDR headquarters.

The Home Ministry put out a notice asking people to inform their nearest police stations immediately if they have any information about the absconding BDR personnel.

"We have already gathered enough evidence including the statements of survivors and the process is underway to collect more," said Khisha.

Meanwhile, President Zillur Rahman led thousands of mourners at a mass state funeral for the 49 army officers and one family member slain in the violent mutiny.

Air force jets flew overhead in salute at the mass funeral prayers held at the national parade ground. Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed was also present.

Hasina has already indicated that she plans to form special tribunals to try those who organised the mutiny, which she has described as "planned massacre" that may have received outside help.