Bangladesh Jails Ex-PM Zia on Corruption Charge

Authorities in Bangladesh have jailed former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on corruption charges. Ms. Zia, who left office last October, and her son, Arafat Rahman Coco, were detained early Monday.

A judge in Dhaka refused Ms. Zia bail and sent her to jail, while her son will be held in custody for questioning about the case. The charges filed Sunday allege that Ms. Zia misused her powers in awarding government contracts, including one for development of port facilities in Chittagong, to a private company.

Ms. Zia's older son, Tarique Rahman, has been in jail since March, and he is currently awaiting trial for extortion.

The military-backed government that took power in Dhaka nearly nine months ago also filed new charges Sunday against Ms. Zia's bitter rival and predecessor as prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

Ms. Hasina already is in jail, awaiting trial on previous corruption charges. The additional charges filed Sunday against Ms. Hasina allege that she illegally took payments of more than 400 thousand dollars during her term as prime minister, from 1996 to 2001.

Ms. Hasina is said to have used the money to buy land for a charity that she heads, the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

Months of violent clashes last year between supporters of Ms. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Ms. Hasina's Awami League prompted the military to cancel scheduled elections and take power in Dhaka on January 11.

An interim government appointed by Bangladesh's military has ruled the nation since then, vowing to fight corruption, reform electoral rules and clean up the nation's politics before calling new elections.

ENDS