Bangla detains another ex-minister in graft hunt

Dhaka, Feb 9: Security forces led by the army have detainedanother former minister as Bangladesh's interim government pushes aheadwith a crackdown on corrupt politicians ahead of elections, police saidtoday.

They said Mosharraf Hossain, former state minister for energy andpower in the government of immediate past prime minister Begum KhaledaZia, was held yesterday night at his home in northern Mymensingh town.

Like other ex-ministers and senior politicians detained sinceSunday, Hossain would be sent to a court for a preliminary hearing andis likely to be detained for a month while charges are framed.

The interim government headed by former central bank chiefFakhruddin Ahmed has launched a major crackdown on corruption,arresting nearly 60 politicians -- including 10 former ministers.

They belong to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led byKhaleda as well as the Awami League of her main rival, former primeminister Sheikh Hasina.

The drive to clean up politics and the administration ahead ofelections -- for which no date has yet been set -- has been praised byBangladeshis and the country's donors and investors.

Bangladesh's High Court asked the government yesterday to explainwithin two weeks why it had detained the political leaders, lawyers andcourt officials said.

''The court has ruled on the interim government to show cause bynext two weeks why the detentions will not be declared illegal,'' aregistrar of the court said.

Hasina has hailed the drive, saying corrupt politicians must bebrought to justice. Khaleda has made no comment, but her BNP hasexpressed concern at the ''indiscriminate'' arrest of members anddemanded their immediate release.

Reuters >