NEW DELHI, March 2: India on Monday offered all “support and assistance” to the Bangladesh government, following last week’s gory massacre of their army officers by the Bangladesh Rifles border guards, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said.

He said Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee had written to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to condemn the killings and to express “great shock at the tragedy that had unfolded over the last few days in Bangladesh.”

Mr Mukherje said: “India stood ready to extend whatever support and assistance that Bangladesh may require at this juncture.”

He conveyed India’s deepest condolences to the Bangladesh government, the army, and the families of those who had lost their near and dear ones.

“He unequivocally condemned the same, as also all efforts aimed at destablising a democratically elected government,” the Indian spokesman said.

He expressed solidarity with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and her government in this hour of difficulty.

The Bangladesh Army, in what has been dubbed “Operation Rebel Hunt,” is searching for those who fled following the mutiny in which officers were shot and bayoneted. Bodies were dumped in sewers or hastily buried in mass graves.

Some family members of officers were also killed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked for international assistance to investigate the massacre and has reportedly requested help from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Britain’s Scotland Yard.
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