A former aviation minister for Bangladesh, Mosharraf Hossain, has been detained by police as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption probe.

He was one of several former government officials and politicians taken into custody Sunday as they submitted wealth statements to an anti-graft office.

The commission had published a list of 50 people required to explain how they accumulated wealth beyond their official salaries.

The deadline for submitting the statements is Sunday.

In recent weeks, Bangladeshi authorities have detained more than 20 other former ministers and politicians suspected of corruption.

The interim government says the crackdown on corrupt politicians from both main political parties is aimed at preparing Bangladesh for free and fair elections.

The caretaker government declared a state of emergency and suspended national elections last month following months of crippling opposition protests demanding electoral reforms.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.