B'desh Army Chief alleges evil force attempts to undermine govt

Dhaka, Aug 25 (UNI) Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff General Moeen U Ahmed today said ''an evil force'' wanted to destabilise the situation of the country but its design was ''frustrated''.

Gen Ahmed made the remarks in the wake of last week's violent student demonstrations in the capital and major cities against the state of emergency.

The demonstration erupted from Dhaka University on August 20 following a brawl between some students and army men, spread fast across the country.

The army-backed caretaker government imposed indefinite curfew from Wednesday night and closed all universities and colleges in Dhaka and five other major cities to contain the student protests.

Gen Ahmed who was addressing a meeting of local elite in flood-hit Shariatpur town, said ''An evil force taking the cue of a trifle incident on the Dhaka University campus on August 20 wanted to create anarchy. Within 24 hours, they (politicians) poured in crores to instigate vandalism on the street.'' However, the army chief said, ''But the design could not succeed as we were vigilant. Their plan to destabilise the situation and undermine the government has been frustrated.'' He said the intelligence agencies were investigating to find out the evil force engaged in creating anarchy and undermining the image of the government.

Meanwhile, the intelligence agencies arrested five senior teachers of Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities in connection with teacher-student protests.

General secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association Prof Anwar Hossain and Dean of Social Sciences Prof Harun-or-Rashid were produced before a magistrate court today and brought on a four-day police remand for further interrogation.

Police also filed 34 cases of violence committed during the student protests accusing 65,000 unidentified people with various police stations in Dhaka Metropolitan City.

UNI