June 04, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1429

DHAKA, June 3: Two top-ranking army generals have been removed from key positions, an official said on Tuesday, as the military chief consolidates power in emergency-ruled Bangladesh.

Principal staff officer lieutenant general Masud Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, considered the second most powerful general in the military, has been transferred, an armed forces official said.

He has been appointed commandant of the National Defence College, a low-key post, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Lieutenant general A.T.M Jahirul Alam has been made an ambassador, he said, adding that the foreign ministry would announce his destination.

The official described the transfers as a “routine affair”, however the two men were among the senior four generals whose positions were upgraded in May last year just months after the military-backed government took power.

A leading political expert at Dhaka University said the moves bolstered the power of army chief General Moeen U Ahmed.

“General Masud was considered as the second most powerful general in the army. His transfer to a non-commanding low-key position means General Moeen now has absolute control in the armed forces,” said the expert, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The changes will fortify his grip and will also see the military-backed government take a hard line on the political leaders,” he added.

Some 60,000 of Bangladesh’s 140,000 soldiers were deployed across the country in January last year when a state of emergency was imposed and elections cancelled.

The interim government has arrested allegedly corrupt politicians and businessmen in a vow to clean up the nation before elections.

Polls have been announced for the third week of December although the two main parties have threatened to boycott talks to organise the vote.—AFP