Dhaka, April 6:

The president of emergency-ruled Bangladesh has extended the tenure of the country’s influential army chief for another year on the grounds of “public interest,” an official said today.

Army chief general Moeen U Ahmed’s job was scheduled to end on June 15, but President Iajuddin Ahmed has given him another 12 months, presidential secretary Sirajul Islam said.

Moeen is widely seen as key architect of events in January last year that led to the president declaring a state of emergency and appointing a military-backed government. The interim government has embarked on a major crackdown on political corruption and has vowed to restore democracy by the end of 2008. More than 150 top politicians including two former prime ministers have been arrested and were charged with graft as part of the emergency government’s clampdown.

Moeen, who last May became the first full general in the country’s history, has said the army does not have intention to grab power, and would go back to barracks when an elected government takes over.