A parliamentary body yesterday asked the authorities concerned to arrest Major Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haq and Ishraq Ahmed on charges of involvement in an abortive attempt to topple the government around nine months ago.
Meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry also called for exemplary punitive measures against those involved in the failed putsch.
At the meeting, army high-ups informed the committee that they had stepped up efforts to catch Ishraq, a non-resident Bangladeshi businessman, and Major Ziaul -- two of the coup plotters.
Ishraq is now in Thailand and Ziaul on the run.
The committee urged the authorities to take immediate steps to bring Ishraq back to Bangladesh in consultation with the Thai government, the sources added.
At a press briefing on January 19, the Bangladesh Army disclosed that it had foiled an “attempt to overthrow the present democratic government.”
At the instigation of some non-resident Bangladeshis, a band of religious fanatics, comprised of mid-ranking officers and their retired colleagues, had been involved in the botched attempt, said the army.
A parliament secretariat press release yesterday said the committee had asked the naval headquarters to come up with a detailed proposal to form a national maritime commission for carrying out all activities in the maritime area.
The committee members, chiefs of the three services and other officials were present at the meeting.