| The new head of Bangladesh's paramilitary border security force has issued a statement to personnel urging them to respect the chain of command. The statement by Gen Moinul Islam is one of the first communications between senior army officers and troops of the border force since a mutiny last month. At least 74 people died when members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutinied against the army leadership. Gen Islam promised that those not involved would not be punished. But the statement - sent to BDR camps around the country - said that those people who did play a role could expect to be severely dealt with. It also called upon personnel to help root out "bad elements" within the force. In an interview with the BBC's Bengali service, Gen Islam said that he would begin meeting BDR personnel next week. Discontent Correspondents say that the general's statement was addressed primarily to those members of the BDR based outside of Dhaka who are currently carrying out border security duties. Full details of exactly what it says have not been released. However it is known that Gen Islam reiterated the army's desire to reform the BDR - a process which is now underway - and announced that all members of the force would be screened to assess their suitability to continue serving. It is also known that the statement appealed to BDR personnel to respect army officers commanding the force - many of whom have been newly appointed since the events of last month - and do everything they can to help them exercise their duties. Correspondents say that discontent over the army's leadership of the BDR - coupled with poor promotion prospects within the force itself - are thought to be one of the reasons behind the mutiny. But other reasons have also been put forward - including a suggestion that Islamic extremists may have played a role and theories that Indian or Pakistani intelligence agencies were involved. Some have argued that China had a hand in the mutiny while others have blamed the Indian separatist group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week said that the mutiny was part of a conspiracy to bring down her new government. Hundreds of guardsmen have been arrested in connection with the mutiny but hundreds more are still sought. The BDR is chiefly responsible for guarding the country's borders and its officers are drawn from the regular army. The mutiny began on 25 February at the BDR annual meeting at its headquarters in Dhaka but briefly spread to other barracks across the country. The rebels surrendered after 33 hours but they killed at least 57 of their officers, including their commander. His wife and a number of other officers' wives were also killed.
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It is totally unacceptable that the militants had used a disciplined force like the Bangladesh Rifles for the massacre 
