Bangladesh Army was ready to storm the headquarters of the BDR in Dhaka soon after the mutiny erupted, but heeded to Premier Sheikh Hasina's advice at the last minute to resolve the issue politically, a top officer has revealed.
"The Prime Minister directed that the crisis be solved politically and it has been resolved in that manner," Brig. Gen. Mahmud Hossain, Director of Military Intelligence, told a press conference in Dhaka last night.
He said the army was ready to put down the BDR mutiny soon after it began on Wednesday, but decided to support Hasina's decision to solve the issue politically.
The bloody two-day revolt by the renegade soldiers of the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles left at least 73 Army officers and four civilians dead.
Terming it "possibly the worst massacre of Army officers in Bangladesh's history", Brig Hossain said the anger among the armed forces was "very natural".
"However, the Army is a disciplined force which can control its emotion", he said.
Asked if a retaliation by the army would have led to more bloodshed, army doctor Col. Abdul Salam, who was also present at the press conference, said "it's a difficult question but the restraint by the Army was good."
{{/usCountry}}Asked if a retaliation by the army would have led to more bloodshed, army doctor Col. Abdul Salam, who was also present at the press conference, said "it's a difficult question but the restraint by the Army was good."
{{/usCountry}}Outraged over the killing of its officers during the mutiny by BDR soldiers, the Bangladesh Army demanded "maximum" punishment for those involved in the massacre.
"Exemplary punishment of the culprits will cool our resentment. Our demand is that the investigation into the killings should be quickened and maximum punishment should be given to those persons responsible for them," Brig. Hossain said.
He said the Army has begun its own probe into the killings of its officers during the mutiny even as the investigation ordered by a government-constituted committee continues.