Khaleda-Zia: Out on parole

Former Bangladesh prime-minister Khaleda Zia and her two sons were temporarily released from jail to attend the funeral service of her-mother, an official said.

"The authorities have released Khaleda-Zia and her two sons on parole for several hours to attend the funeral service of her mother," home ministry spokesman Shahnur Mia said.

Zia, the country's last elected prime minister and the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and her two sons were arrested last year by the country's military-backed emergency government.

Via AFP

Former PM's son tortured

The detained son of Bangladesh's most recent elected prime-minister has said he was tortured during questioning-on-corruption allegations, reports have suggested.

Rahman was arrested last March as part of the military-backed emergency government's graft crackdown.

Tareque Rahman, the son of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Khaleda-Zia, told a court bail hearing that he was blindfolded and suspended from a ceiling.

Via AP

Amnesty pushes Bangladesh

Amnesty International's Secretary General told a meeting of NGOs in Bangladesh that the organisation is in the country to push for reform.

Irene Khan said "as Amnesty International’s Secretary General and a Bangladeshi, I feel there is a window of opportunity that can turn the trend from which this-country has suffered. In this country, there has been a culture of impunity."

"This culture of impunity goes back to 1971; we feel it is an institutional problem. There needs to be a strong independent judiciary, police-reform, action to address torture and ill-treatment."

She said that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the military need to be held accountable for human rights violations, that there needs to be an effective National Human Rights Commission and freedom of information legislation.

Via Bangladesh Blogger

Iajuddin's advisers

Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed has appointed five new-advisers to replace those who resigned days before the military-backed interim government marks its first year.

Rasheda K. Choudhury and economist Hossain Zillur Rahman were sworn in by Ahmed, government official Ali Imam Majumder said.

In 2007, President Ahmed declared a state of emergency on Jan. 11 and appointed an 11-member interim government the next day following weeks of violent protests ahead of general elections, which had been scheduled for Jan.22.

That government, headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed, has the backing of the country's influential-military and most foreign donor-countries.

Via AP