"... the plot involved up to 16 Islamist officers, both active and retired, raising fears about the prevalence of hardliners in the upper ranks of the 140,000-strong military."
"Islamist coup plot foiled in Bangladesh, says army," by Shafiq Alam for Agence France-Presse, January 19:
The Bangladesh army said Thursday it had foiled a plot last month by some "religiously fanatic" Islamist officers to overthrow the elected government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We have unearthed a heinous conspiracy to overthrow the democratic government through the army," army spokesman Brigadier General Masud Razzaq said in a written statement.
"The attempt has been thwarted with the whole-hearted efforts of army soldiers," the statement said, adding that the plot had been fomented by Bangladeshi expatriates in touch with "religiously fanatic army officers".
Hasina's government, which came to power in early 2009, made changes in June last year to bolster the secular character of the Bangladesh constitution, although Islam was retained as the state religion.
The move sparked a series of angry protests by Islamic activists in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries with a long history of coups and counter-coups.
Razzaq told local media that the plot involved up to 16 Islamist officers, both active and retired, raising fears about the prevalence of hardliners in the upper ranks of the 140,000-strong military.
Two retired officers including a colonel have been arrested and will be presented before a court of inquiry set up on December 28, while an alleged "co-planner" called Major Syed Ziaul Haq, a serving officer, is on the run.
Syed Ashraful Islam, the spokesman of the ruling Awami League party and an influential minister, said anyone found guilty would be handed "exemplary" punishment.
"There is no room for conspiracy in the army. Those who are involved in such conspiracy will be given exemplary punishment," he told reporters.
Giving details about the alleged plot, Razzaq said that Ziaul had circulated emails to different serving officers detailing a plan to overthrow the government on January 9-10.
The outlawed Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir, banned in Bangladesh in 2009 after it was linked to a car bomb on a politician, was accused of helping to circulate the messages.....
Proof once again that no regime can *ever* be Islamic enough. Bangladesh is a country with Islam as the state religion that allows such aspects of Shari'ah as flogging.
But that is not enough for these "Islamists". There can never be enough Islam, and even the most pallid reforms away from Shari'ah bring responses like this foiled coup.
"Proof once again that no regime can *ever* be Islamic enough."
especially if the country is very nearly 100% Islam when all is supposed to be in total peace an harmony...the more Islamic a country becomes the more impoverished and violent it becomes...It'a an Islamic thing.
"...said anyone found guilty would be handed "exemplary" punishment."
dishing out punishment is what Islam does...
"Major Syed Ziaul Haq, a serving officer, is on the run"
Why is he "on the run"? Because he is a COWARD, just like his prophet Muhammad.
When Muhammad, the prophet of islam, was surrounded by his enemies - and was unable to be "on the run" - guess what he did... HE PLAYED DEAD!
The brave Prophet of Islam PLAYED DEAD to avoid death, paradise, immortal boys and 72 virgins.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/03/muhammad-coward.html
If it's like that in *Mohammedan* countries - the really zealous power-hungry jihad-minded sharia-pushers infiltrate the army and try to take over - then...what of *non*-Mohammedan countries that are foolishly allowing Mohammedan fifth columnists - fifth columnists, i repeat, whether in esse or as yet in posse - to enter the army and the police force and the judiciary...
exsgtbrown wrote:
"Proof once again that no regime can *ever* be Islamic enough."
especially if the country is very nearly 100% Islam when all is supposed to be in total peace an harmony...the more Islamic a country becomes the more impoverished and violent it becomes...It'a an Islamic thing.
................................
Very true, exsgtbrown. The most Islamic countries—where the population is close to 100% Muslim—are the most violent and poverty-stricken places on earth.
Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia—all hideously brutal and chaotic places.
So much for the idea of the "peace of Islam"—unless they are referring to death...