Army to hunt down fugitive mutineers in 'Operation Rebel Hunt'

AFP - Bangladesh's government will deploy army troops across the country to hunt border guards behind a deadly mutiny that killed at least 77 people, an official said Sunday.

An Armed Forces spokesman told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that a nationwide operation would be launched from Monday to track down those believed to be behind a 33-hour revolt in the capital.

A home ministry official, who also did not want to be named, confirmed the operation to AFP but would not say how many troops would be deployed.

"The government has decided to deploy the army across the country under 'Operation Rebel Hunt' to arrest the fugitive (mutineers) and seize their arms," the home ministry official said.

Meanwhile, in the capital rescuers continued to search on Sunday for more than 70 missing army officers at the headquarters of the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).