Bangladesh army chief defines role in government

DHAKA, Aug 28 (Reuters) Bangladesh's army chief General Moeen U Ahmed said today that the armed forces were only a part of the country's independent caretaker government and not holding the strings of power.

''The present government is not a national government supported by the army. It is an independent, non-partisan caretaker administration,'' he told reporters on a visit outside the capital Dhaka.

''The armed forces are part of the government and work for the welfare of the country and its people,'' he said.

The government's law and information adviser Mainul Husein said yesterday that his government was an army-backed national administration and that any attempt to thwart its plans could threaten the survival of the perpetrators.

His remarks echoed public perception that the army has been running the country since the interim government took office in January and imposed a state of emergency after cancelling elections planned for January 22.

General Moeen has previously said the army had no intention to stage a coup -- as has happened previously in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshis have generally backed the caretaker administration of former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed as a respite from checkered records of previous elected governments.

The caretaker government has promised to hold a free and fair election before the end of next year after completing a drive against corrupt politicians.

So far, more than 170 key political figures have been detained by the army-led security forces, including former ministers.

REUTERS LPB HT1545