Bangladesh on Monday moved against the leaders of its two main political parties, both former prime ministers, as it intensified efforts to clean up the nationÂ’s corrupt politics.In a dawn raid, hundreds of police and Special Forces swooped on the Dhaka home of Sheikh Hasina Wajed and jailed her on charges of extortion, which she has repeatedly denied. The arrest sparked an angry showdown with supporters of Sheikh Hasina, who ruled the impoverished country from 1996 to 2001, leading to police opening fire with tear gas and rubber bullets to restore order.
Hours later, the military-backed emergency government summoned the most recent elected prime minister Khaleda Zia — to appear in court next month to answer tax evasion allegations. Sheikh Hasina and Zia ruled alternately from 1991 to 2006 and stand accused of misrule that brought the country to the brink of anarchy earlier this year.
The government attempted to exile both in April as part of its efforts to reshape Bangladesh politics, although it later abandoned the plan.