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Former B'desh ministers remanded | Former B'desh ministers remanded |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A court in Bangladesh has ordered that three former ministers, including key allies of former PM Khaleda Zia, be remanded on corruption charges. | A court in Bangladesh has ordered that three former ministers, including key allies of former PM Khaleda Zia, be remanded on corruption charges. |
Among those who were sent to jail is the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Motiur Rahman Nizami. | |
His party is a key partner in Ms Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led alliance. | His party is a key partner in Ms Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led alliance. |
The three were charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission for illegally leasing out a coal mine in the north. | The three were charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission for illegally leasing out a coal mine in the north. |
Another former minister was arrested on Sunday. | Another former minister was arrested on Sunday. |
Correspondents say that the arrests throw further confusion over whether the BNP and its allies will take part in parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. | Correspondents say that the arrests throw further confusion over whether the BNP and its allies will take part in parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. |
The former ministers are alleged to have made a deal with a foreign company - ignoring other lower bidders - to develop the coal mine. | The former ministers are alleged to have made a deal with a foreign company - ignoring other lower bidders - to develop the coal mine. |
'Credible polls' | 'Credible polls' |
Their lawyers insist that they are innocent and that the charges against them are "politically motivated". The next hearing of the case will take place on Thursday. | Their lawyers insist that they are innocent and that the charges against them are "politically motivated". The next hearing of the case will take place on Thursday. |
Thousands of Jamaat supporters protested near the court as the men were taken to jail. | Thousands of Jamaat supporters protested near the court as the men were taken to jail. |
The elections are due to be held on 18 December, with the four-party alliance led by the BNP already threatening to boycott the vote. | The elections are due to be held on 18 December, with the four-party alliance led by the BNP already threatening to boycott the vote. |
The country's army-backed caretaker government is keen to ensure the polls are credible and has released Khaleda Zia - the BNP's leader and former prime minister - from detention to secure her party's participation. | The country's army-backed caretaker government is keen to ensure the polls are credible and has released Khaleda Zia - the BNP's leader and former prime minister - from detention to secure her party's participation. |
A report by the monitoring group Transparency International in June said that corruption in the country has continued to thrive since the interim government took power last year. | A report by the monitoring group Transparency International in June said that corruption in the country has continued to thrive since the interim government took power last year. |
In some sectors of the country corruption had actually increased since January 2007, it said. | In some sectors of the country corruption had actually increased since January 2007, it said. |
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