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Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for former premier

Wednesday, 25 February 2015 7:43 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 25 February 2015 7:43 AM ]

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia

A court in Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia over her absence at hearings on graft charges that can jail Zia for the rest of her life.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadder, from a special anti-corruption court in the capital, Dhaka, issued the warrant against Zia despite the fact that she has been “confined” to her office since January over the political unrest in the country, Zia's lawyer Sanaullah Miah said on Wednesday.

Zia, who is accused in two corruption cases of embezzling $650,000 during her tenure as premier in 2001-2006, could face a life sentence if found guilty.

The former premier says the embezzlement charges are politically motivated, aimed at destroying her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Bangladeshi authorities have recently put more pressure on 69-year-old Zia, who has been confined in her office at the opposition headquarters in Dhaka since January 3.

On January 6, Zia called for a nationwide transport blockade as part of efforts to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and pave the way for new elections.

Hasina, who was re-elected in January 5, 2014 polls, has warned Zia of “dire consequences” if the protests carry on. The election had been boycotted by the opposition in the country.

At least 100 people have been killed, a large number of cars and buses have been set ablaze or damaged, and several trains have been derailed since the start of the blockade and the ensuing clashes between opposition supporters and police forces.

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