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New Corruption Charges Brought Against Former Bangladeshi PM


Bangladesh's government has brought new corruption charges against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

The country's Anti-Corruption Commission Thursday accused Ms. Zia, her son, Tarique Rahman and five others of embezzling more than $300,000 (21 million taka) from a trust meant for orphans.

She and her two sons already are being held on other corruption charges.

They were among 170 politicians and business people arrested last year during an anti-graft sweep by Bangladesh's military-backed caretaker government. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also was detained in the crackdown. She was recently released on parole to receive medical treatment in the U.S.

Ms. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party has vowed to boycott the country's parliamentary elections, set for December, unless the former prime minister is released from detention.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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