( CNN ) -- The rebellion by paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles troops apparently ended Thursday after they handed over their weapons inside their headquarters in the capital city 's Pilkhana district , the national press agency quoted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as saying in a nationwide televised address . However , the fate of top military officers who were taken hostage Wednesday was unclear , according to the news agency , Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha , or BSS , on its Web site . Home Minister Sahara Khatun `` oversaw a rescue campaign along with a government delegation in search of bodies of officers , BDR soldiers , their family members and relatives , '' the agency said . The Bangladesh Rifles is also known as the BDR . Bangladeshi soldiers take position armed with automatic weapons in Dhaka on Wednesday . Earlier Thursday , the country 's home minister , Sahara Khatun , said mutinous paramilitary troops were close to laying down their arms and many had returned to their barracks . `` They have raised white flags and the situation is in its last stages , '' added a government official who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media . `` The army presence is a means to secure the area and there is nothing to be worried about . '' Still , for a jittery city , the heavy military presence near the gates of the Bangladesh Rifles ( BDR ) headquarters in the Pilkhana area raised fears of a potentially deadly confrontation . `` This can not be good , '' said Palash Chowdhury , who was watching the drama unfold from his uncle 's house a few blocks away . `` This can not be good . '' Meanwhile , police in about six other towns reported shooting incidents involving Rifles troops , another government official confirmed to CNN . The incidents do not appear to have resulted in casualties , but had raised fears that the mutiny would spread outside the capital . Bangladesh Police spokesman Kamrul Ahsan disputed the reports to CNN . But concerned residents were not so readily appeased . `` Yesterday , people thought this was an internal BDR grievance and it would be worked out , '' said Rashid Zaman , a Dhaka resident . `` Now , we see the scope is much broader , that it 's getting serious . There 's an uncertainty . No one knows which way things will turn . '' Watch a witness describe seeing and hearing the gunbattle » . Shops and offices in the capital sent workers home . Adding to the city 's paranoia : Dhaka residents suddenly found themselves unable to make or receive calls from elsewhere in the country . `` Many people are finding this troubling , '' said Zahid Hussain , a former journalist who is now part of a U.S.-funded effort to create an investigative journalism center in the country . `` Whenever the army has gone into action in the past , they cut off the mobile connection so nobody can pass information . '' The standoff at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters began Wednesday morning after a gun battle . At least 50 officers and civilians were feared dead in the gunfire , the country 's law minister said . Watch how paramilitary revolt has spread » . As dawn broke Thursday , the rebelling troops with the Bangladesh Rifles allowed government officials entry into the headquarters . They went door-to-door at officers ' quarters to assure frightened women and children it was safe to come out . CNN was not immediately able to confirm the exact casualty count , with medical officials saying a final number would come after they had a chance to comb through the premises looking for bodies . At least six bodies were recovered from rivers and drainage ditches Thursday , bringing the total to eight . Many of them had on military uniforms , government officials said . Authorities say the men had been killed and their bodies dumped in sewers . They were recovered after they floated for miles down rivers . The Bangladesh Rifles is responsible primarily for guarding the country 's borders . The force , numbering more than 65,000 , also takes part in operations such as monitoring polls . The troops staged their rebellion on the second day of BDR Week , when officers and troop members from various BDR outposts along the border were in the capital for celebrations . At least 5,000 BDR personnel were inside the compound when the mutiny occurred about 7:45 a.m. local time Wednesday , said Mohammed Sajjad Haider , spokesman for the information ministry . The rebelling troops were low-ranking members of the BDR , akin to infantrymen , who were angry at the way they were treated by their superiors , Haider said . `` They have several demands , '' Haider said . `` They want pay parity with the army , they want job security , they want better food rations . '' The mutiny is the most serious crisis for Bangladesh 's newly elected government , which came into power in December after two years of army-backed rule . CNN 's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report .
NEW : This means the product will ship as received by the manufacturer, sealed, with all advertised components, and with the manufacturer warranty. Nearly 50 people killed in Bangladesh Rifles headquarters , minister says . CNN not immediately able to confirm the exact casualty count . Anxiety grew as residents of Dhaka , the capital , lost phone service .