NEW DELHI // Barely two months after democracy returned to Bangladesh following a prolonged period of political instability, the country faces another crisis after its border security guards mutinied and went on a killing spree in their headquarters in Dhaka.
Border guards from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) - believed to be disgruntled about low pay and ill treatment at the hands of senior officers - openly revolted against their superiors on Wednesday for close to 33 hours, killing 74 army officials, in some cases even family members, and about 20 civilians.
Reports have emerged about the discovery of mass graves and about 70 other army officers are believed to still be missing.
Yesterday the nation mourned the bloodshed as a mass namaz-i-janaza - or Islamic funeral - was held for nearly 50 army officers killed during the mutiny, including Major Gen Shakil Ahmed, the director general of the BDR.
The government has said that 1,000 BDR mutineers are wanted and will be tried for manslaughter. The hunt for them continued yesterday.
"This was a human catastrophe," said Gen Muhammed Ibrahim, a retired army general from the Bangladesh army. "In this country, not unfamiliar with killings, this episode was mind boggling."
The country's media also condemned the mutiny.
"What transpired at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters on February 25 was not a mutiny. It was murder plain and simple," Syed Badrul Ahsan, a columnist, wrote in The Daily Star.
"It was a brutal assault on the army, on officers in whose hands rested the capacity for military professionalism. In the larger sense, [this episode] was the incapacitation of a whole nation."
The BDR is one of the world's oldest and most experienced paramilitary forces. It was established in 1795, initially as the Ramgarh Local Battalion under the auspices of the British empire, and since then, over the course of several wars, earned itself a reputation as a gallant fighting force. The BDR was at the forefront of Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971.
As the country comes to grips with this recent tragedy, questions are being raised by shocked countrymen about what could have BDR guards to rebel so suddenly and with such violence.
Gen Ibrahim believes there was more to the mutiny than disaffection over low wages ill-treatment.
"This wasn't a mutiny by an entire organisation. It was just a handful who picked up arms, possibly under the guidance of a larger force," he said.
Ayesha Kabir, the editor of Probe, an English-language Bangladeshi weeklynewspaper, was shocked by the callousness with which the BDR soldiers went about killing their comrades. The operation did not appear to be a spontaneous outburst, Ms Kabir said, suggesting there were forces at work behind the scenes.
"Low pay and corruption within BDR ranks alone does not justify taking up arms. These are issues that have plagued several Bangladeshi organisations," she said.
"It was all very well planned, well executed. It appeared premeditated."
The mutiny occurred just two months after Bangladeshis voted in a new government, following a long period of political turbulence and two years of rule by a military-backed caretaker government.
The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed, clinched more than a two-thirds majority in the Bangladeshi parliament, trouncing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of her arch-rival Khaleda Zia.
Several conspiracy theories have emerged in Bangladesh as to who was behind the mutiny, but it is far from clear who the real perpetrator might be, if indeed there was underhanded involvement.
Sheikh Hasina has sought the help of US Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate the killings. A formal request to this effect was made yesterday to Richard Boucher, US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs. Sheikh Hasina has also approached Britain's Scotland Yard to investigate the case.
Imtiaz Ahmed, a professor in the international affairs department at the University of Dhaka, said he believes the intent of the killings was clear: to destabilise the country.
The Dec 29 parliamentary elections, monitored by 1,500 foreign and 200,000 local observers, were feted the world over as free and fair, unlike many previous elections, Prof Ahmed said. The caretaker government revolutionised the elections process, drawing up a computerised list of 81 million registered voters for this election, and purging 11m fake voters from the rolls.
"Bangladesh has found some semblance of stability after years of turmoil. Not many will be happy about that. Bangladesh has many enemies - both within and without," Prof Ahmed said.
Certainly the episode has led to an exchange of barbs, with the opposition accusing the Sheikh Hasina-led government of mismanaging the mutiny and of being "too soft" on the mutineers.
But there was one upside to this tragic episode, according to Prof Ahmed: "The army and the newly elected political establishment, who have for long had an acrimonious relationship, worked together to quell the mutiny together."
achopra@thenational.ae
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%20train%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20and%20synchronous%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E950Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E25.7kWh%20lithium-ion%3Cbr%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%203.4sec%3Cbr%3E0-200km%2Fh%3A%2011.4sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E312km%2Fh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20electric-only%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2060km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Q3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.2m%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The%20Roundup%20%3A%20No%20Way%20Out
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
