DHAKA, Feb 6: Joint security forces led by the Bangladesh army have arrested more than 50 politicians including nine former ministers in a countrywide drive against corruption launched over the weekend, police and state media said on Tuesday.

Salahuddin Ahmed, a former communications minister in the government of immediate past prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was picked up from his home in Dhaka on Tuesday, the latest arrest in a campaign by the interim administration to clean up politics before general elections.Those arrested belong to Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as well as its main rival Awami League, led by another former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Most of the politicians have been jailed for one month under the Special Powers Act (SPA) under which they can be held without being formally charged.

The politicians were likely to face charges of corruption, involvement in anti-state and anti-people activities, and misuse of power to amass wealth, police said.

Law and information adviser to the interim government, Mainul Husein, told reporters on Tuesday the graft cases would be tried by special courts for speedy disposal. “Mere jailing of the corrupt politicians was not enough.

The government should ensure they can never participate in elections,”.—Reuters