Bangladesh detains another ex-minister in graft hunt

DHAKA, Feb 9 (Reuters) Security forces led by the army have detained another former minister as Bangladesh's interim government pushes ahead with a crackdown on corrupt politicians ahead of elections, police said today.

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

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

The interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin 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 by Khaleda as well as the Awami League of her main rival, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

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

Bangladesh's High Court asked the government yesterday to explain within two weeks why it had detained the political leaders, lawyers and court officials said.

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

Hasina has hailed the drive, saying corrupt politicians must be brought to justice. Khaleda has made no comment, but her BNP has expressed concern at the ''indiscriminate'' arrest of members and demanded their immediate release.

REUTERS PDM KP1035