Bangladesh: An Islamist Military Coup?

In late December 2011, the Bangladeshi military foiled a coup plot by junior officers. Coups are nothing new in Bangladesh, where military overthrows have been a recurring part of national life since the country was founded in 1971. However, this plot was different. Instead of the military's top brass, it involved low-ranking officers with ties to the banned Islamist organization Hizb al-Tahrir. Recent years have seen the growth of Islamism in Bangladesh, and coupled with public dissatisfaction with the country's two main political parties, this coup attempt could be an ominous sign for the Bangladeshi political establishment.