Dhaka says it foiled coup bid by ‘fanatic’ army officers

Two retired army officers — Lt Col Ehsan Yousuf and Maj. Zakir — have been arrested for the “heinous conspiracy” unearthed last month,the army said. Another suspect,serving officer Maj. Syed Mohammad Ziaul Huq,is absconding,and “14-16 officers of the middle level” were under watch,it said. “A band of fanatic officers had been trying to oust the politically established government. Their attempt has been foiled,” army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Masud Razzak said.

He said the plot had been hatched by Bangladeshi expatriates in touch with “religiously fanatic army officers”. “The attempt has been thwarted with the whole hearted efforts of the army soldiers,” Razzak said in a written statement.

The arrested former officers had “bluntly admitted their role in the plot”,Razzak said. The absconding serving officer,Ziaul Huq,“had sent e-mails to different serving officers to execute his operation plans on January 9 and 10”.