Dhaka - Bangladesh's government on Thursday described last week's mutiny at the headquarters of its border guards as a plot against the nascent democracy of the South Asian country.

"It was a big conspiracy against democracy," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed said. "It is presumed initially that the mutiny was staged to put the democratically elected government in danger and cause embarrassment for it."

She made the remarks to South-East Asian diplomats after the February 25 rebellion at the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka left dead 73 people, mostly mid-ranking army officers.

Bangladesh returned to a democratic system two months ago after general elections in late December, which ended two years of rule by an appointed, military-backed government.

Hasina's ruling Awami League-led alliance bagged a large parliamentary majority in the elections.

The delegation of envoys from the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations assured the prime minister of their support in protecting democracy, said Abdul Kalam Azad, the prime minister's press secretary.

During the meeting, the diplomats from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia also assured Hasina that they would also assist Bangladesh in establishing peace and prosperity.

They also discussed the prospect of the investment in Bangladesh's energy and tourism sectors. (dpa)