BANGLADESH: Former PM Sheikh Hasina arrested
Updated
The former Bangladeshi prime minister and leader of the main opposition Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, has been arrested and jailed. Her arrest by more than 400 police on Monday is the highest-profile action so far by the interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed. He has pledged to eradicate corruption before elections are held next year. Sheikh Hasina already faces a string of criminal allegations, including the murder of four people who died in protests organised by the Awami League. However her arrest relates to one of two extortion cases filed against her last month, which together involve around $US1.6 million.
Presenter: Corinne Podger
Speakers: Moinal Hosein, chair of Bangladesh's largest daily paper, the Daily Ittefaq
HOSEIN: There are several cases against the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. But today this morning she was arrested in connection with one particular case. This case was started by a private individual alleging that when she was prime minister for a power plant project, this man had to pay a certain amount in the form of eight cheques, and he had this cheques and an investigation began and at one stage Sheikh Salim - a close relation of Sheikh Hasina was arrested and he made a confessional statement admitting that yes this amount was paid. He in turn paid part of the amount to the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. So this case has now come up, my information is that some lawyers appeared on her behalf in court and applied for bail, some other witnesses supported the case and the court did not grant bail. And I'm also told that the charge sheet is ready and I'm told that it will be filed in a day or two.
PODGER: There have been some speculation that her arrest might be in connection with the ongoing investigations into political violence in Bangladesh last year. That's not the case it seems?
HOSEIN: As far as this case is concerned and this arrest is concerned, no that is not the situation. Now her arrest is in connection with this extortion case.
PODGER: Bangladesh's interim leader Fakhruddin Ahmed has pledged to eradicate corruption before elections can go ahead and Sheikh Hasina's arrest is part of that. But is arresting the leader of the main opposition party going too far?
HOSEIN: I don't know how it can be said that it is going too far. I think the important aspect of the present government is to establish that nobody is above the law. And having said that, at the same time it has to be emphasised that these cases are being conducted independently, we have an independent anti-corruption commission, and there is no interference by the government, so as far as this case is concerned, there is no political bias. But yes - this government is committed to establish the fact that everybody is equal before the law and powerful people are not powerful enough to be above the law, so this is a vital principle that needs to be established.
PODGER: Sheikh Hasina's arrest was a huge operation, there were hundreds of police involved. How is her detention likely to be perceived by the general public in Bangladesh?
HOSEIN: Well for the police involvement yes, a large number of people were there, but there was no demonstration or anything against this arrest - at that time at least. She is a political leader, some people will make statements against that. This is something which has to be dealt with to establish that nobody is above the law. The idea that we punish small people for the small corruption, but that big people will not be charged for big corruption, that was the situation in the past. So this is a change from the past trends and that's why corruption could become so extensive, so rampant, so bold. Laws have to be followed, that is the principle here involved.
