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| Top Bangladesh politician is held | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police in Bangladesh say that they have arrested the influential politician and former Law Minister, Moudud Ahmed. | |
| Mr Ahmed has not been charged and it is not clear why he has been arrested, but correspondents say that he has recently been accused of tax evasion. | |
| The former minister is a close aide of the former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. | |
| The head of the military-backed caretaker government has meanwhile confirmed that general elections will be delayed until the end of 2008. | |
| The caretaker government has launched a vigorous drive against corruption since President Fakhruddin Ahmed imposed a state of emergency and cancelled national elections planned for 22 January. | |
| More than 160 politicians, businessmen and former bureaucrats have been detained in the drive under the emergency powers. | |
| The administration says that polling will not take place until its anti-corruption drive is concluded. | |
| Accounts frozen | |
| The arrest of Mr Ahmed at his home in Dhaka is the latest development is what has been a topsy-turvy political career. | |
| A state of emergency was declared in January | |
| He is himself a former prime minister, and has had a chequered political career. | |
| He served in the government of the military ruler, General Ershad and in the government of Khaleda Zia. | |
| Correspondents say that the military-backed interim government froze the assets in his bank accounts last month while investigating possible tax evasion. | |
| Mr Ahmed - who has been arrested before on charges of corruption - has denied the latest allegations and has appealed against the account freeze in the high court. | |
| Black money | |
| In a TV address late on Thursday, President Ahmed said that he hoped that elections before the end of 2008 would be fully free and honest. | |
| "Steps have been taken so that criminals, terrorists and black money holders cannot participate in the elections and corrupt democracy," he said. | |
| Mr Ahmed said the interim government would not stay in power a day longer than necessary. | Mr Ahmed said the interim government would not stay in power a day longer than necessary. |
| The interim government is backed by the military | The interim government is backed by the military |
| The announcement has been welcomed by the main opposition Awami League party. | |
| "This is the first time the government announced a specific timeframe for elections. Of course we welcome this timeframe," Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the Awami League, was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. | "This is the first time the government announced a specific timeframe for elections. Of course we welcome this timeframe," Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the Awami League, was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. |
| Mr Jalil called on the government to lift the ban on political activities "so that we can discuss with the election commission the reforms and other poll-related issues". | Mr Jalil called on the government to lift the ban on political activities "so that we can discuss with the election commission the reforms and other poll-related issues". |
| Last week, Bangladesh's chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said it would take at least 18 months before new elections could be called. | Last week, Bangladesh's chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said it would take at least 18 months before new elections could be called. |
| He said the delay was needed to allow time to prepare new voting lists and new electoral laws. | He said the delay was needed to allow time to prepare new voting lists and new electoral laws. |