Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia, son arrested

TV footages showed Zia and her son Arafat Rahman Rahman Koko being taken from her residence amid tight security.

Bangladesh arrested and refused bail for former leader Begum Khaleda Zia on Monday, witnesses and officials said.

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Her younger son Arafat Rahman was also detained at the same time. A Dhaka magistrate's court remanded him to police custody for a week for interrogation.

Security forces arrested Khaleda, the country's most recent prime minister, at her home. Her lawyers prayed for bail, which the same court rejected. She was then moved to a special jail in the capital, court officials said.

Hundreds of army-led security forces had surrounded Khaleda's home in the city's army barracks since Sunday midnight and she was detained about 7:30 am (0130 GMT).

Television showed a large convoy of security vehicles carrying Khaleda and her son along a largely empty road from the army garrison to the city's old section where the courts are located.

Khaleda was later produced in court under heavy police protection. From there she was moved in a building turned into a special jail, near the parliament building and beside another special jail where another former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is now housed.

It was the first case filed against Khaleda Zia by the Anti-Corruption Commission, which has already brought multiple charges of extortion and corruption against Hasina.

The charges against Khaleda were read out by government lawyers in her presence.

Khaleda's rival Hasina has been in the special jail since she was detained on July 16 for alleged extortion. Her trial has not started.

Khaleda's elder son and political heir Tareque Rahman was detained in March by security forces as part of an anti-corruption drive launched by the army-backed interim government which took charge in January.

More than 170 other senior political figures have also been detained.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January, which banned political activity and protests by political parties or any other groups, and also cancelled an election planned for January 22.

Khaleda stepped down in October at the end of her five-year term.

The interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed has promised to hold a free and fair election before the end of next year.

The powerful army also seems determined to crush the two parties headed by Khaleda and Hasina. Prior to January, both parties caused widespread unrest, including costly nationwide strikes condemned by businesses, as well as violent street protests.

The two women have been criticised by many of their party leaders as authoritarian and corrupt.