"I want to make it clear that I did not take the decision on my own. It was a decision of the government, I just carried out my duties by virtue of my position," Jahurul told VOA Bangla Service.

Meanwhile, although the government later decided to cancel its decision to deploy the army, it is yet to issue any circular in this regard.

The circular issued to the deputy commissioners (DCs) on Sunday for army deployment was faxed after informing the Cabinet Division, Jahurul said, adding, "There is no scope for confusion here."

He said the circular did not mean that the army would be deployed immediately. "The army was just kept on alert so that they might be called in case the situation goes out of control," he told the Washington-based news service.

The DCs received a circular signed by the home secretary Sunday afternoon that said the government decided to deploy army in aid of the civil administration to maintain law and order.

But following the caretaker government advisers' surprise at such a decision, the government backtracked from its stand that night.

The following day, two advisers said there were "procedural mistakes" in issuing the circular and that it had put them in an embarrassing situation.

The government cancelled the order the same day.

As criticism was rife for the controversial order and many political and civil society bodies were demanding removal of the home secretary, no statement was made from the Bangabhaban on who took the decision.

A process was initiated Tuesday to transfer Jahurul to the education ministry, but it was halted midway.