DHAKA, Nov 3: Bangladeshi police have arrested a city mayor on extortion charges after he allegedly demanded thousands of dollars from a staff member in return for a promotion, an official said on Saturday.

Khulna city Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman was arrested at his home in Dhaka, said Dhaka Metropolitan police official Abdul Mottalib.

Mottalib said Rahman was arrested after a suspended Khulna city official, M. Hafizur Rahman, filed a case against the mayor, claiming he took $3,623 from him after threatening to prevent his promotion unless he handed over the money.

Khulna is 136 kilometers southwest of Dhaka.

Mottalib said investigators were questioning the mayor. Under Bangladeshi law, police can detain suspects for a maximum of 24 hours before producing the accused in court where they can apply for bail.

Four other city mayors have been arrested on charges of extortion and corruption after the military-backed interim government came to power in mid-January.

The administration has pledged to clamp down on government corruption before elections expected to be held before the end of 2008.

Two former prime ministers who dominated the country’s politics over the past 15 years are currently behind bars.—AP