Former Bangladesh PM Hasina hospitalized

Dhaka, April 19: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was admitted to hospital on Saturday after she experienced blood pressure problems. Doctors attending to her at a hospital here, said her blood pressure was found to be fluctuating during a routine medical check-up, and therefore, she was advised to enter hospital for further tests. They said that she is presently in the intensive care unit of the hospital, and would remain thre till her blood pressure stabilises.

Security has been tightened in Dhaka with dozens of riot police deployed around the hospital to prevent demonstrations by her supporters who have been demanding her release.

Hasina, 60, has been under dentention in a building inside parliament since her arrest last July on charges of graft, abuse of power and extortion.

Hasina, who leads the Awami League party, has also been suffering from ear and eye ailments, and was admitted to hospital last month

Her family and partymen have urged the country's army-backed interim administration to allow her to travel overseas for medical treatment, preferably to the United States where her children live, but the government has rejected the plea saying she could get adequate medical treatment at home.

Hasina is among 170 political figures detained by the military-backed caretaker administration as part of its campaign against corruption ahead of elections to be held later this year.

ANI