Khaleda’s son held, Hasina home searched in Bangla crackdown

(A PTI report from Dhaka said that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Shudha Sadan residence was searched twice since late last night, apparently in a bid to nab some of her Awami League partymen. And the government tonight banned “political activities indoor” for an indefinite period, warning of stern action against violators.)

Security forces also arrested Khandaker Mosarraf Hossain, a former health minister and a close aide of Zia, from his residence in Dhaka’s northern Gulshan district, his son Khandaker Tushar said.

Among the detainees were ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, mayor of Chittagong and a senior Awami League leader, and Atiqullah Khan Masud, owner of Dhaka’s Janakantha daily newspaper.

The government did not immediately explain the charges. Law Adviser Moinul Hussein said earlier that the drive was targeted against those accused of graft.

Over the past few weeks, security forces have arrested more than 60 politicians, including 13 former ministers.