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Ex-Bangladesh PM arrives in Dhaka Ex-Bangladesh PM arrives in Dhaka
(about 1 hour later)
Bangladesh's former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has arrived back in Dhaka after successfully overturning the ban preventing her return.Bangladesh's former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has arrived back in Dhaka after successfully overturning the ban preventing her return.
The Awami League president was left stranded in London a week ago after the country's emergency government said she was a threat to national security. The Awami League president was met by senior officials and hundreds of cheering supporters.
She has spent almost two months abroad, as the caretaker government tried to force her into exile. She was stranded in London a week ago after the country's emergency government said she was a threat to national security.
Sheikh Hasina arrived in the country under tight security. She spent almost two months abroad as it tried to force her into exile.
'Gatherings baned' 'Gatherings banned'
"It's my country, it's my home. I'm so excited to be able to return to my country," Sheikh Hasina told reporters at Dhaka's Zia International Airport after arriving from London. Sheikh Hasina arrived in the country under tight security after flying in from London.
The military-backed government, which implemented a state of emergency in January, has banned political activity, but members of Sheikh Hasina's party applied for permission to meet her at the airport. "It's my country, it's my home. I'm so excited to be able to return to my country," she told reporters at Dhaka's Zia International Airport.
"We have applied to the government to allow 100 of our leading figures at the airport," Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil told the AFP news agency.
The military-backed government says it wants an end to corruptionThe military-backed government says it wants an end to corruption
"We have asked our party activists not to mass at the airport because all sorts of gatherings are banned during the emergency," he said. "The government made a mistake by not allowing me to return home and it will repeat the same mistake if they arrest me," Sheikh Hasina told reporters in a reference to murder and extortion charges filed against her in her absence.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says that if the government had had its way, Sheikh Hasina would now be adjusting to life in exile. The military-backed government, which implemented a state of emergency in January, has banned political activity, but around 500 Awami League members defied the order.
Instead, our correspondent says she is returning to a hero's welcome. "There will be fires in every home if Hasina is arrested," they chanted.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says that if the country's military-backed caretaker government had intended to silence her by blocking her return, then the plan spectacularly failed.
Our correspondent says that the opposition leader was surrounded by a crowd of dancing, cheering supporters before being whisked away.
The government had earlier warned that political reform would be difficult if Sheikh Hasina and her rival, former Bangladesh Nationalist Party Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, stayed on the scene.The government had earlier warned that political reform would be difficult if Sheikh Hasina and her rival, former Bangladesh Nationalist Party Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, stayed on the scene.
It warned international airlines not to carry Sheikh Hasina home from a holiday abroad and tried to persuade Khaleda Zia to leave for Saudi Arabia.It warned international airlines not to carry Sheikh Hasina home from a holiday abroad and tried to persuade Khaleda Zia to leave for Saudi Arabia.
'Biggest betrayal''Biggest betrayal'
But our correspondent says that international pressure and opposition at home forced the government to abandon the exile strategy.But our correspondent says that international pressure and opposition at home forced the government to abandon the exile strategy.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has said she is seeking $2m in damages from British Airways for complying with the Bangladesh government's request not to issue her with a boarding card.Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has said she is seeking $2m in damages from British Airways for complying with the Bangladesh government's request not to issue her with a boarding card.
She is returning today on another airline.
In an interview with the Asian Age newspaper on Sunday, Sheikh Hasina said the government had lied to her.In an interview with the Asian Age newspaper on Sunday, Sheikh Hasina said the government had lied to her.
Khaleda Zia has resisted attempts to be forced in to exileKhaleda Zia has resisted attempts to be forced in to exile
"The biggest betrayal was that they would not let me return to the country," she said."The biggest betrayal was that they would not let me return to the country," she said.
The new government says that it is determined to continue its nationwide crackdown on corruption, and has arrested more than 150 top politicians, civil servants and businessmen.The new government says that it is determined to continue its nationwide crackdown on corruption, and has arrested more than 150 top politicians, civil servants and businessmen.
It has said that polls will be held no earlier than late 2008, after its anti-corruption drive and voting reforms have been completed.It has said that polls will be held no earlier than late 2008, after its anti-corruption drive and voting reforms have been completed.
Sheikh Hasina was charged with murder and extortion last month, but police have suspended a warrant for her arrest pending further investigations into the deaths of four members of an Islamic during unrest last year.Sheikh Hasina was charged with murder and extortion last month, but police have suspended a warrant for her arrest pending further investigations into the deaths of four members of an Islamic during unrest last year.
Police said she could still be arrested over an extortion case filed by the Bangladeshi head of a Malaysian company.Police said she could still be arrested over an extortion case filed by the Bangladeshi head of a Malaysian company.