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Journalism of Courage
Bangladeshi authorities formally charged the son of the country8217;s former prime minister with extortion on Sunday, police said.
Police filed charges with a magistrate8217;s court against Tarique Rahman for allegedly extorting 147,000 from a construction company, police investigator Mahbub Morshed said. Rahman has denied the accusation.
Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is a senior leader in her Bangladesh Nationalist Party and has been widely seen as a potential successor to his mother.
The charges are part of a popular anti-corruption drive by the military-backed government that took control of the government amid deadly rioting over allegations that the Nationalists had planned to rig elections scheduled for January 22. President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency on January 11 and postponed the polls.
Rahman, the eldest of Zia8217;s two sons, faces two to five years in jail if convicted.
8211;PARVEEN AHMED
