The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh Monday arrested former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, security officials were quoted as saying by the German news agency "DPA". Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers surrounded Hasina's residence in the capital Dhaka before she was driven off to the chief magistrate's court where she was indicted for extortion and subversion. Hasina, chief of the country's biggest political party, the Awami League, denied the charges, terming them politically inspired. The court refused bail to Hasina and sent her to jail under detention pending trial.
