Dhaka - Convoys of army troops Friday entered the headquarters of the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to search for missing army officers, while police arrested more than 200 border troops involved in a mutiny against their commanders two days ago.

"The army entered the compound with the prime minister's permission to join the ongoing search," said Home Minister Sahara Khatun, who visited the central Dhaka BDR headquarters after the troops' surrender on Thursday.

Dhaka, Feb 26 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutineers to surrender their arms, otherwise action would be taken against them in the interest of the country.

In a brief address to the nation, Hasina said, "You surrender the arms. I'm giving you my word that none of you will be harmed. Otherwise, I'll be bound to take any step in the interest of the country".

"I am trying to solve the problems through negotiations, not through using force," she added.

New Delhi - India said Thursday that the border guards' mutiny in neighbouring Bangladesh was an internal matter and it was confident that the neighbouring country would resolve the situation amicably.

There is growing concern in India over the volatile situation in Bangladesh. The two nations share a 4,096-kilometre border

"As regards our border [with Bangladesh], the area is safe and secure," Vishnu Prakash, spokesman for India's External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Dhaka, Feb 26 : The mutiny by paramilitary troops in Bangladesh was reportedly spreading to other parts of the country on Thursday.

Nearly 50 people are feared dead after paramilitary troops staged a mutiny on Wednesday morning at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles in Dhaka over pay and career advancement conditions.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for an emergency cabinet meeting in a bid to end the crisis.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has 45,000 men stationed at 64 camps across the country.

Dhaka  - Authorities in Bangladesh on Thursday urged mutineers within the country's splintered military to lay down their arms as a deadline approached to end a violent confrontation between paramilitary soldiers and their commanders that left at least 50 people dead, officials said.

Dhaka  - Bangladeshi paramilitary border troops began surrendering their weapons early Thursday, ending a 19-hour standoff that left at least 50 people dead at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters, a government minister said.

The mutiny began Wednesday morning at an annual meeting to allow soldier to air their grievances to officers, sources inside the headquarters said. The enlisted men, upset over a pay dispute, took the officers hostage.