Ex-Bangla PM Sheikh Hasina exiled

8220;The government has taken special security measures regarding Sheikh Hasina8217;s return to the country,8221; a Home Ministry statement said.

Hasina, who heads the main opposition Awami League, is on holiday in the United States where she is visiting relatives. She has been charged with abetting murder, but had nevertheless vowed to return to Dhaka next week.

8220;All the immigration departments in airports, land ports, airlines operating flights to Bangladesh and all concerned people have been informed to take the necessary measures,8221; the statement said.

When contacted, three senior ministry officials confirmed 8212; as clearly implied by the statement 8212;that Hasina, 60, would be blocked from entering the country and even barred from boarding any flight to Dhaka.

8220;The government has just banned her from entering the country,8221; said Abdul Jalil, the general secretary of the Awami League. 8220;We don8217;t have any comment at this stage.8221;

Hasina and Zia have ruled the country alternately since democracy was reintroduced in 1991, and their respective family dynasties have dominated national politics since the country gained independence in 1971.

But they have also been accused of blatant corruption and plunging the country8217;s fragile democracy into crisis after crisis through their bitter personal rivalry.

Months of clashes between supporters of the two women prompted President Iajuddin Ahmed to declare a state of emergency in January and also cancel elections scheduled for that month.

The new interim government8217;s effort to clean up politics in Bangladesh, reputed to be one of the most corrupt countries on earth, has seen dozens of top officials from Zia8217;s Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP and Hasina8217;s Awami League arrested.

Zia, 61, has been under virtual house arrest in Dhaka since last week, and on Tuesday officials said she had agreed to leave quietly in return for leniency for her two sons, both of whom faced graft and extortion charges.

An aide said she had been given until Sunday to go, and that she would comply.

The interim government statement said that if Hasina returned, she 8220;may try to make provocative statements and create hostility by carrying out anti-law and order

activities8221;.

Bangladesh may enforce curbs on media

Dhaka: Bangladesh may enforce curbs on the media, which has been accused by the authorities of 8220;publishing or broadcasting dishonest and unprofessional political statements8221;.

8221;Recently we have noticed that some of the media are publishing or broadcasting dishonest and unprofessional political statements, satirical sketches, cartoons, features, etc, which are creating confusion among the people,8221; said a letter sent to all media outlets in Bangladesh. The government till now has been flexible and tolerant in implementing the provisions of the Emergency Powers Act, 200, the letter stated.