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| Bangladesh |
| Bangladesh interim govt. probes links between top politicians, mafia |
| 2007-03-25 |
| (KUNA) -- Bangladesh's security forces have raided the political office of business magnate and son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, -- Tarique Rahman, following the interim government's decision to investigate reported links between him and Indian-born underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is now in self-exile outside India. The security forces late Friday seized computers and documents from Rahman's office in Dhaka's posh Banani residential area, news agency Indo-Asian News Service reported Saturday. The alleged links between Rahman and Ibrahim were reported by Bangladesh's leading English and Bengali dailies Thursday. The newspapers claimed Rahman visited Dubai last year to meet Ibrahim and signed several deals. Ibrahim is also wanted by India for his alleged role in 1993 Mumbai blasts, which killed more than 300. Rahman was appointed by his mother in an influential position in Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which ruled from 2001-06, with an aim to anoint him as her political successor. Rahman was arrested two weeks ago on charges of corruption. Meanwhile, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed has said in an interview to Time Magazine that his interim government does not intend to stay in power more than necessary but said that it would complete electoral reforms before conducting Parliamentary elections. He also defended the current drive against corruption and said the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has to decide when elections will be held. The ninth general election, scheduled for January 22, this year, was postponed following nationwide political turmoil and emergency was imposed. Electoral reforms, and drive against corruption and militancy are high on the agenda of the interim government. "We are committed to holding elections in the shortest possible period but there is a wide acceptance in the country that the time that it takes to carry out these fundamental reforms should really be allowed, and then you hold elections. We do not intend to stay in power a day longer than necessary," Ahmed told the magazine. The United States Friday said though there must be a timeline for elections, it is not pushing for a specific time for the conduct of the polls. |
| Posted by:Fred |