Former Bangladesh PM among 56 charged with murder

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 55 other political activists have been charged by police for their alleged roles in the killings of five rivals during riots last year, news reports said.

Dhaka city police sub-inspector Enamul Haque filed the murder charges against Hasina and 45 members of a 19-party political alliance led by her Awami League party, domestic news agency bdnews24.com reported.

Haque accused them of involvement in the deaths of four Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh activists during an October 28 riot in the capital, Dhaka, the report said.

Police sub-inspector AKM Idris Hossain meanwhile pressed murder charges against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and nine of his colleagues for their alleged roles in the killing of an activist.

The victim belonged to a 19-party political alliance led by the Awami League at the same riot, local television station Bangla Vision reported.

The day's riots left five people dead from the both sides.

Hasina led the impoverished South Asian nation's government from 1996-2001.