Bid to topple Hasina foiled

24.com)—The Bangladesh army has said that efforts by some officers to topple the Sheikh Hasina government have been foiled and that the process to bring the culprits to justice has begun. 

"Specific information (evidence) has been unearthed that some officers in active military service have been involved in the conspiracy to topple the system of democratic governance through the army," an army spokesman said at a press briefing Thursday afternoon. 

The spokesman, brigadier general Muhammad Masud Razzaq, branded these officers as having extreme religious views. 

"Some unruly and derailed military officers have been actively engaged in the execution of the heinous conspiracy through maintaining contacts with fugitive Maj Zia (Syed Mohammad Ziaul Huq) by mobile phones and Internet," the spokesman said. 

"On Dec 22 last year, Maj Zia met a senior officer and tried to provoke that senior officer into using the army against the state and democracy," the spokesman said. 

"The senior officer immediately informed the appropriate authorities and his (Maj Zia's) leave and transfer order was cancelled." 

"But he did not return to work and has still kept himself engaged in trying to organize subversive activities against the army." 

On Dec 28, a court of inquiry was established. 

"Stern legal measures will be taken against those involved." 

"Recently, at the instigation of some of non-resident Bangladeshis, some serving as well as retired officers with extreme religious views have tried to create disorder in the army riding on the religious sentiments of other officers," the spokesman said. 

"Such heinous attempts are being foiled" by the army, the spokesman said. 

Source: bdnews24