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Dhaka: Bangladesh's security forces arrested at least 13 political leaders including eight former ministers in pre-dawn raids yesterday, according to officials and reports.
Those detained in the capital before dawn yesterday included former interior minister Mohammad Nasim and former state minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir of the Awami League.
Nasim's son, Tanmoy Mansur, said his father was taken away by a squad of police and army around 1.30am. "They gave no reason but said the order to detain him came from the top," Tanmoy said.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) figures detained included former communications minister Nazmul Huda and state ministers Ruhul Kuddus Talukder, Mir Nasiruddin, Amanullah Aman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.
Security officials, requesting anonymity, confirmed the detentions and said the drive would continue as part of the government's bid to organise a fair, peaceful and credible election.
The interim authority headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmad is strongly backed by the armed forces, which are acting behind the scenes instead of intervening directly, apparently to keep their international peacekeeping profile high.
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