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Bangladesh joint forces detain more politicians

The Bangladeshi interim government yesterday arrested four prominent politicians and a leading businessman in a stepped-up anti-corruption drive, officials said.

The detained political figures are former health minister Sheikh Selim, former home affairs minister Altaf Hussain Choudhury, Sylhet city Mayor Badruddin Kamran and Barisal city Mayor Mujibur Rahman Sarwar.

Officials said a former president of the Bangladesh business chambers, Abdul Awal Minto, was also detained by the army-led joint security forces.

Retired air vice-marshal Choudhury served in the government of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and Selim is a relative of Khaleda's rival, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Officials of the Awami League and Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said about half a dozen other politicians were picked up yesterday.

The charges against them were not immediately known.

"More arrests are on the cards," said an intelligence official, without elaborating.

The interim government appears especially intent on eliminating "family politics" from Bangladesh, analysts said.

Hasina is daughter of Bangladesh founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Khaleda is the widow of Lieutenant-General Ziaur Rahman, who came to power following a 1975 coup.

A day earlier, two other former ministers -- Abdul Jalil, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Awami League, one of the country's two major political parties, and Lutfozzaman Babar, former state minister for home affairs -- as well as industrialist MA Hashem were also arrested in a sweep by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Security forces have arrested more than 160 key political figures including Tareque Rahman, Khaleda's elder son and political heir apparent, on extortion charges.

Hasina said she might be detained as well.

"I don't know where they [the interim government] are taking the country to. May be they will pick me up too," she told reporters late on Monday.

Hasina faces several charges of alleged corruption in deals made to buy MiG-29 planes and frigates while in power between 1996 to 2001, and lately of extortion and murders linked to political violence late last year.

The government is planning to revive the cases, officials said.

A state of emergency declared by President Iajuddin Ahmad in January stemmed political violence in the volatile Muslim country. Ahmad also appointed an interim government to hold parliamentary elections to return the country to democracy.

Bangladesh has announced promotions of the top military commanders who are leading the crackdown on the politicians, making army chief Moeen U. Khan a general, from lieutenant-general, at the weekend.

The air force and navy chiefs were also promoted, as Air Marshal and Vice-Admiral. Defense officials said the promotions were aimed at bringing the heads of Bangladesh forces at par with their counterparts in neighboring countries.
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