April 12, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1428

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s army-backed interim government ended three months in office on Wednesday with strong public support as it takes on the country’s top two politicians before re-scheduling postponed polls.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is cutting short a visit to the United States to return home next week so she can be personally available for investigation into charges filed by a businessman that she extorted 30 million taka ($436,000) while in power.

Hasina’s Awami League party has termed the allegation false and farcical. The government said the probe, started by police, would likely be handed over to the national anti-corruption council, which is dealing with high-profile cases.

Hasina’s arch-rival and the most recent prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, who ended her five-year term in October, has been in virtual confinement at her Dhaka home.

Her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and close associates told reporters security agencies had told Khaleda not to venture out of home and to keep visitors — except her personal physicians and handful of close relative — away.

Khaleda’s confinement stemmed from what police said was concern over her personal safety. They have not given any further explanation of that.

Khaleda’s elder son, Tareque Rahman, a senior joint secretary general of the BNP and her apparent political heir, has been in jail since March 7. He faces charges of extortion and abuse of power for amassing huge wealth.

Also detained in a crackdown on corruption launched by the interim authority after imposing a state of emergency on Jan 11, were some 160 senior political figures.

They belong mostly to the BNP or the Awami League. All are likely to face trial by so-called quick trial courts which are mandated to hand down verdicts within 60 days.

The interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed postponed an election planned for Jan 22 in the wake of widespread political violence.

Hasina called the government now in charge of organising a free and fair election “undemocratic and unconstitutional”, which triggered a quick rebuttal by the authorities.

One adviser to the interim government said it had no intention of clinging to power “even a day beyond the time needed to create conditions for a credible election”.The Election Commission said preparing a flawless voters roll might take up to 18 months, suggesting an election might not be held in two years or more.

Hasina’s political future largely depends on the outcome of the extortion allegation. If convicted, she might be banned from contesting elections for up to five years, lawyers said.

Speculation also abounds about the fate of Khaleda.

Newspapers on Wednesday quoted BNP and police sources as saying she might leave the country and her likely destination was Saudi Arabia.

The reports also said the ex-premier wanted her jailed son to accompany her, something the authorities will not allow.

Many wonder if Khaleda would choose a course charted by former Pakistani premiers Benazir Bhutto and Newaz Sharif.

“The whole nation is currently in a fix and what happens to whom is anybody’s guess,” said a senior government official on Wednesday.

“People still largely support the actions of the interim authority, especially its bold steps to bust political and other corruptions,” he said.

“But the mood may change if the government fails to prosecute the detainees based on unquestionable truth and clear evidence,” he said.

Fakhruddin told a police rally in Dhaka on Tuesday that everyone should come forward and help him to “save the country from corrupt politicians, terrorists and criminals”.—Reuters