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    January 19, 2012

Bangladesh Foils Coup Attempt

   VOA News
   Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq (R) talks about what he said
   was a coup attempt by retired and serving officers late last month, in
   Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 19, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq (R) talks about what he said
   was a coup attempt by retired and serving officers late last month,
   which intelligence sources said was driven by a campaign to introduce
   Sharia law throughout the majority Muslim country, in Dhaka,
   Bangladesh, January 19, 2012.

   Military officials in Bangladesh say they have uncovered a plot by
   religious extremists to overthrow the government.
   Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq shared details of the attempted
   coup with reporters Thursday, calling it a "heinous conspiracy" to
   topple Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

   Razzaq said the coup had been planned abroad and that two retired
   military officers have already been arrested. A third man, Army Major
   Ziaul Haq, is on the run.
   Razzaq said a total of 16 current and former military officers had been
   involved.
   Bangladeshi intelligence officials say the military uncovered the coup
   plot last month and that the plotters planned to introduce strict
   Islamic Sharia law.
   Prime Minister Hasina has cracked down on Islamic militant groups since
   taking office in early 2009. She has repeatedly warned such groups were
   plotting against her government.
   This is not the first time Hasina has confronted military unrest. In
   2009, shortly after she took office, some of the country's border
   guards mutinied, resulting in the deaths of more than 70 people.
   Bangladesh has a history of bitter political rivalries, coups and
   counter-coups since gaining its independence.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.