April 02, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

DHAKA: The son of detained former Bangladesh premier Khaleda Zia has been formally charged with corruption as part of the military-backed government’s anti-graft drive, an official said on Tuesday.

Tareque Rahman has been accused of amassing and concealing wealth worth 50 million taka ($728,000), said Anti-Corruption Commission chief Hanif Iqbal.

“We have submitted the charge-sheet to the metropolitan magistrate court.

His wife and mother in-law have also been named in the case. The proceedings of the case will start shortly,” the official said.

Rahman, 42, has been accused of widespread corruption during the previous coalition government led by his mother and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who has also been detained on separate corruption charges.

Rahman did not hold any post in his mother’s cabinet, but was widely seen as among the most powerful figures in the country during the previous government.—AFP