TASEK PAUH blogspot

May 21 - A special court in Bangladesh has sentenced the political secretary of a former prime minister to three years in jail, an official has said.

Harris Chowdhury, who has been on the run since the government launched its crackdown on corruption, was found guilty of failing to submit details of his financial affairs as demanded by the authorities.

Chowdhury was Khaleda Zia's political secretary during her second term as prime minister, from 2001 until October 2006.

Golam Fattah, public prosecutor, said: "Judge Ashraf Hossain of special court number five gave the verdict today."

Crackdown

The special courts were set up by the military-backed government last month to try dozens of high-profile political figures charged with corruption.

Chowdhury was ordered to account for his wealth by the anti corruption commission after the military-backed government took power following the imposition of emergency rule in January.

Many others ordered to make similar submissions have been in detention for several months.

Among those arrested are Zia's influential elder son, Tareque Rahman, as well as former ministers and MPs of both Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and rival Sheikh Hasina Wajed's Awami League.

At least half a dozen former ministers are due to be tried at the special courts set up at the national parliament building in the capital.

Chowdhury is the first BNP member to be given a jail sentence.

Last month Shamim Osman, a former Awami League MP, was jailed for three years for failing to submit his financial details.

The new government has vowed to clean up Bangladesh's corruption-riddled politics before holding elections by the end of 2008. Agencies

Labels: Bangladesh, Luar Negeri