Hasina return blocked at Heathrow

Hasina8217;s close aide, Abdus Sobhan Golap, who accompanied her to London8217;s Heathrow Airport, said British Airways officials would not allow her onto the flight, citing security reasons. 8220;She was not allowed to get on the plane,8221; he said.

Bangladesh media had reported that she would be refused entry and authorities had told airlines not to allow her to board any flight to Bangladesh.

In Dhaka, Hasina8217;s Awami League party said it plans to fight in court the government ban on her return. 8220;How can a free citizen be barred from coming home? We will challenge this in court,8221; said Zillur Rahman, a senior Awami League leader. He did not specify when the party will petition the court.

British Airways said in a statement that it 8212; along with other airlines 8212; had been notified by the Civil Aviation Authority in Bangladesh that a passenger had been banned from entering the country. 8220;As a result we8217;re not able to accept them for travel on BA,8221; the airline said, without elaborating.

Golap said Hasina argued for an hour and a half with airline officials who showed her documents issued by the Bangladeshi government. 8220;They said there were other passengers on the plane and it was going to be very insecure for her,8221; Golap said. 8220;They said it was better not to fly.8221;

Hasina told the airline officials that she wanted to return to fight the allegations against her, Golap said by telephone. 8220;She said 8216;I have to go back.8221;8217;

Rahman also said the party plans to challenge the arrest warrant issued against Hasina. 8220;She is willing to come back to face the charges against her, but the government is barring her. How can she appear in court if she is not home?8221; he said.

Many Bangladeshis blame the political rivalry between Hasina and Zia for making the country8217;s widespread poverty and corruption worse. The interim government hoped forcing them into exile would calm the bitter division between their political camps, which has derailed the country8217;s fragile democracy.

Hasina, who was prime minister from 1996 to 2001, was charged with murder on April 11 while she was in the United States on a visit. The government on Wednesday accused her of issuing 8220;inflammatory statements8221; against the country8217;s military-backed interim government while she was outside the country.

The United News of Bangladesh agency reported that Hasina is now listed as a fugitive.

The murder case involves the deaths of four protesters in a riot in October. The riot broke out at one of a series of demonstrations by her supporters accusing the government of her rival, Zia, of stacking the committee that was supposed to oversee January elections and rigging voter rolls.

D8217;ARCY DORAN