Bangladesh army says foils coup attempt

DHAKA, (Reuters) – The Bangladesh army has  foiled a coup planned against the government of Prime Minister  Sheikh Hasina, a military spokesman said today.
Bangladesh has a history of coups with army generals running  the impoverished South Asian nation for 15 years until the end  of 1990.
“Specific information has been unearthed that some officers  in military service have been involved in the conspiracy to  topple the system of democratic governance,” Brigadier General  Muhammad Masud Razzaq told reporters.
He said the officers had been identified. Some had been  detained and would be presented before a military court.
Intelligence officials had repeatedly warned that “fanatic”  Islamist militants with links to the military may try to oust  Hasina.
“A band of fanatic officers had been trying to oust the  politically established government. Their attempt has been  foiled,” Razzaq said.
Hasina took power in early 2009 and has since faced threats  from Islamist and other radical groups.
A revolt in the country’s paramilitary forces in February  2009 started in Dhaka and spread to a dozen other cities,  killing more than 70 people, including 51 army officers.
The revolt was quelled after two days but the country has  since been shadowed by fears of further uprisings.