DHAKA, Jan 19: The Bangladesh army said on Thursday that it had foiled a plot by more than a dozen 'religiously fanatic' 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 statement.

'The attempt has been thwarted with the wholehearted efforts of army soldiers,' the statement said, adding that the plot had been fomented by Bangladeshi expatriates in touch with 'religiously fanatic army officers'.

Giving details about the failed coup, which was unearthed in December, Gen Razzaq said a major who was now on the run circulated emails to different serving officers detailing a plan to overthrow the government on Jan 9-10.

The Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir, banned in Bangladesh in 2009 af ter it was linked to a car bomb on a politician, was accused of helping to circulate the messages.

Gen Razzaq said 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 140,000strong military.-AFP