Dhaka:
The Bangladesh military has foiled a plot by hardline Muslim officers, their retired colleagues and Bangladeshi conspirators living abroad to overthrow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a military spokesman announced Thursday.
Sources say plotters belong to an anti-India group, and felt Dhaka was getting too close to New Delhi.
Brig. Gen. Muhammad Masud Razzaq told reporters at a news briefing on Thursday that the military has specific evidence that up to 16 current and former Bangladeshi military officers "with extreme religious views" were involved in the "heinous conspiracy."
Sources said that one of the main plotters has been identified as Major Zia who's linked to an extremist religious group.
Two retired officers have been arrested, Razzaq said, but he did not say when they were arrested.
Bangladesh, a parliamentary democracy since 1990, has a history of coups and counter-coups.
(With inputs from The Associated Press)
Sources say plotters belong to an anti-India group, and felt Dhaka was getting too close to New Delhi.
Brig. Gen. Muhammad Masud Razzaq told reporters at a news briefing on Thursday that the military has specific evidence that up to 16 current and former Bangladeshi military officers "with extreme religious views" were involved in the "heinous conspiracy."
Sources said that one of the main plotters has been identified as Major Zia who's linked to an extremist religious group.
Two retired officers have been arrested, Razzaq said, but he did not say when they were arrested.
Bangladesh, a parliamentary democracy since 1990, has a history of coups and counter-coups.
(With inputs from The Associated Press)
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