Bangladesh may allow limited politics to resume

Dhaka, Mar 19: Bangladesh's army-backed interim government may allow indoor political activity in three months but will not rush on holding elections, the administration's law and information adviser said.

All political activity has been banned since Bangladesh imposed a state of emergency and postponed parliamentary elections planned for January 22 in the wake of widespread violence.

''We are planning to lift the ban,'' Mainul Husein told reporters late yesterday, but he ruled out holding early elections until more reforms were in place.

An anti-corruption drive launched alongside the emergency has resulted in over 160 arrests of senior political figures -- including Tareque Rahman, eldest son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaled Zia on March 7.

Yesterday police formally charged Tareque, a joint ecretary-general of Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and her heir apparent, with extortion.

He was charged with illegally taking 10 million taka (145,000 dollar) in January from a owner of a construction firm.

Police said they were investigating more charges against Tareque, 40, for amassing wealth through corrupt means.

Bangladesh is now being run by a caretaker government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Yesterday Fakhruddin said he was heading a ''fully constitutional government which is accountable to the people.'' ''We are working to fulfil people's aspirations,'' he told officials during a visit to northeastern Sylhet district.

Reuters