DHAKA, Feb 25: Bangladesh border guards launched an armed mutiny on Wednesday, taking officers hostage and sparking a fierce gunbattle in the capital that left at least five people dead and 42 wounded.

Thousands of police and troops with canons and heavy arms cordoned off the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) after the paramilitary border security force took up arms against their superiors over low pay.

An armed forces spokesman said the guards quickly seized control of the BDR headquarters in the capital Dhaka, home to between 3,000 to 4,000 troops, and fired at army helicopters hovering over the barracks.

After hours of gunfire and panic in the city, one of the mutineers’ leaders said on Wednesday night they were prepared to lay down their arms and return to barracks following an offer of general amnesty from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“We have pledged to her that we will lay down arms and go back to barracks. She has agreed to meet our demands gradually,” said Tauhid, an assistant director of BDR, after talks with the prime minister.

But the mutineers said they would not lay down their arms unless troops surrounding the compound were removed.—AFP