Print

Mail

wiki links

Zia's son arrested during Bangladesh anti-graft campaign

Security forces using emergency powers in a broad-ranging anti-corruption drive arrested the younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday, news reports said.

Arafat Rahman, 36, was picked up from Zia's residence in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, United News of Bangladesh news agency and Prothom Alo newspaper reported. Authorities had arrested the other of Zia's two sons, Tarique Rahman, on March 7.

Yesterday's detention was the latest in a series since a campaign against corruption was launched Jan. 11, when the country's military-backed interim government declared a state of emergency.

More than 160 suspects have been detained in the anti-graft drive that has targeted members of both of the country's main political parties -- Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League headed by her rival, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The emergency powers were imposed following violent street clashes between rival political groups over electoral reforms, leaving more than 30 people dead. National elections, planned for Jan. 22, have since been postponed and all political activity banned.

The government plans to clean up the country's corruption-riddled politics before balloting is held, the country's interim leader Fakhruddin Ahmed said in a television speech last week. He said he hoped to hold the polls before the end of next year.

Transparency International, a Germany-based corruption watchdog, has rated this impoverished South Asian nation as one of the world's most corrupt.

Independent observers have hailed the anti-corruption drive as fair and timely.

Police and government officials were not immediately available to comment about Arafat Rahman's arrest.
This story has been viewed 1098 times.