AP News, February 4th, 2007
Bangladeshi security forces used emergency powers to detain 13 senior politicians and former government ministers early Sunday, according to news reports and family members of those detained.
The politicians and ex-ministers were picked up from their homes in the capital, Dhaka, the United News of Bangladesh news agency and detainees' relatives said.
Eight of the detainees, including former ministers Nazmul Huda and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, are close aides of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Those arrested also included Mohammad Nasim _ a former home minister and a senior leader of the Awami League party, headed by Zia's main rival, ex-premier Sheikh Hasina.
Police, government officials, and political party representatives were not immediately available for comment Sunday.
Feuding between Hasina and Zia over electoral reforms has triggered violent street protests in recent months, forcing President Iajuddin Ahmed to impose a state of emergency on Jan. 11.
National elections had been scheduled for Jan. 22 but were postponed due to the violence, which has killed 34 people. No new election date has been set.
The state of emergency bans political activity and gives security forces sweeping powers to detain anyone without warrants.
Protests erupted in late October when Zia ended her five-year term and handed over power to an interim government to prepare for the parliamentary elections.
Hasina's alliance organized the demonstrations to demand electoral reforms and the resignation of disputed election officials. Last week, all five senior officials at the Election Commission stepped down following allegations they were biased toward Zia's party.
