This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6675899.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jail term for Khaleda Zia adviser | Jail term for Khaleda Zia adviser |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| One of the most important figures in the government of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been given a three year jail sentence. | One of the most important figures in the government of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been given a three year jail sentence. |
| Harris Chowdhury was found guilty by a special anti-corruption court set up by Bangladesh's interim government. | Harris Chowdhury was found guilty by a special anti-corruption court set up by Bangladesh's interim government. |
| The sentence has been imposed in absentia as he is in hiding. It is the first such sentence against a high-ranking politician. | The sentence has been imposed in absentia as he is in hiding. It is the first such sentence against a high-ranking politician. |
| The interim government has made tackling corruption its main objective. | The interim government has made tackling corruption its main objective. |
| The court wanted Mr Chowdhury to give details of his assets and had suspicions that that he acquired much of his wealth illegally, Reuters news agency reports. | The court wanted Mr Chowdhury to give details of his assets and had suspicions that that he acquired much of his wealth illegally, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The BBC Bengali service editor Sabir Mustafa says that Mr Chowdhury was the person who controlled access to Khaleda Zia and, as such, wielded enormous influence. | |
| He is the first member of Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party to receive a jail sentence from the anti-corruption court. | |
| Two members of the Awami League have already been sentenced. | |
| Aides to Khaleda Zia said earlier this month that she was still facing curbs on her movements. They said restrictions were in place despite government assurances that she would have freedom of movement. | Aides to Khaleda Zia said earlier this month that she was still facing curbs on her movements. They said restrictions were in place despite government assurances that she would have freedom of movement. |
| Ms Zia's rival, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, returned to the country this month. | Ms Zia's rival, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, returned to the country this month. |
| The military-backed caretaker government abandoned a plan to force the two women into exile last month. It said then that Ms Zia was not under house arrest, and denied allegations made by her supporters that it was trying to force her out of the country. | The military-backed caretaker government abandoned a plan to force the two women into exile last month. It said then that Ms Zia was not under house arrest, and denied allegations made by her supporters that it was trying to force her out of the country. |
| The caretaker government says it will hold elections by the end of 2008. | The caretaker government says it will hold elections by the end of 2008. |