A court in Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in connection with two corruption cases after she failed to appear in court.
Her lawyers argued she was concerned about safety due to ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, and that she has been confined to her office.
Zia has been charged with illegally buying land for a charity named after her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman.
She has said the charges are politically motivated. Her party boycotted parliamentary elections last month, and she has called on her supporters to enforce a nationwide transportation ban as part of an effort to topple current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The tensions between the two main parties in Bangladesh led to protests and violence that has killed about 100 people.