April 09, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1429

DHAKA, April 8: The chief of Bangladesh Army, General Moeen U Ahmed, said on Tuesday that the army would not follow the examples of military takeover in neighbouring countries.

Gen Moeen made this statement while talking to the country’s leading editors at the army headquarters.

“We will neither follow Pakistan or other neighbours, nor our predecessors,” said the general referring to military coups in Thailand and Pakistan and previous ‘takeovers’ in Bangladesh. “I have stated this previously and want to reemphasise this point that we have no political ambition.”

Gen Moeen’s statements came two days after his services were extended by one more year to mid-June 2009.

On the army’s role in running the affairs of the state, he claimed, “we are subservient to the government and we shall not take any steps so that (the society) becomes militarised.”

Answering a query on speculation over the polls uncertainty, Gen Moeen said, “Please wait until December 31. Why won’t there be elections by December 31?”

Replying to query on his recent visit to India, the General said, “I have invitations (from China and Pakistan) too.”