Security forces seize former Bangladesh PM

Security forces arrested Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her home in capital Dhaka today, in a massive operation involving more than 1,000 police and troops.

It was not immediately known on what charges she was detained, but police have said previously that she faces charges of extortion and taking bribes during her 1996-2001 term.

The military-backed government, which is in the midst of an anti-corruption drive, has barred her from leaving the country.

In April, police charged Hasina with abetting in the murder of four political opponents, and a court issued a warrant for her arrest on that charge but it was later withdrawn.

The charge involved the deaths of four protesters during a riot in October at one of a series of demonstrations by her Awami League party that accused then-prime minister Zia's government of stacking the committee that was supposed to oversee January elections and of rigging electoral rolls.

A bitter feud between the country's two major political camps - led by Hasina and her arch-rival and another former prime minister, Khaleda Zia - before scheduled elections earlier this year led to weeks of deadly street protests in which 34 people were killed.

The violence forced the interim government tasked with overseeing the elections to cancel the polls and declare a state of emergency.

Hasina has denied all the charges against her, saying they are aimed at keeping her from contesting the country's next elections.

ATN Bangla said Hasina was arrested after a huge contingent of more than 1,000 security forces surrounded her home in Dhaka's Dhanmandi district. Another TV broadcaster, CSB, said she was subsequently taken to a court in Dhaka.

The security forces, led by elite Rapid Action Battalion, stayed at Hasina's home for more than two hours before she was taken out.

Witnesses said a huge contingent of police surrounded Dhaka's Metropolitan Magistrates Court where Hasina was taken.

Police officials at the scene refused to make any comment saying they were not allowed to speak to the media.

Officials from Hasina's Awami League party were not immediately available for comment.

A magistrate remanded Hasina in custody for an unspecified period pending formal trial, defence lawyer Abdul Matin Khasru told reporters at the court.

Earlier, magistrate Kamrunnar, who uses one name, denied bail to Hasina, who served as the prime minister from 1996-2001.