A general and six army commanders accused of leading a failed mutiny last month have been exonerated and released from jail, army sources and relatives said Saturday.
The move came after the Awami League, a political party that protested the commanders' dismissal, appeared to finish first in Wednesday's parliamentary elections. The party is seeking to form a new government.A military court found that Gen. Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim and the six commanders were innocent of trying to topple the government, army officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The court action and the soldiers' release have not been formally announced by the country's secretive military. The families of the officers confirmed their release.
Nasim, a popular army chief, was sacked on May 20 by President Abdur Rahman Biswas for defying his order to dismiss two army commanders for their alleged illegal involvement in politics.
The president's move triggered a two-day mutiny with hundreds of pro-Nasim soldiers trying to advance to the capital. It ended when pro-government soldiers forced them back to their barracks and Nasim and six others were arrested.
Final election results are not yet available. The Awami League has so far won 133 of 300 contested seats. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's party has won 104 seats.