 | Bangladesh allows former leader's return
26 April, 2007
DHAKA, Bangladesh — The government said Wednesday it has lifted a ban on the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from overseas, and was not pressuring another former leader, Khaleda Zia, to go into exile.
The military-backed interim government issued an order on April 18 that barred Hasina from returning to the country. She was blocked Sunday from boarding a flight in London en route home from the United States.
The government did not give a reason why it lifted the ban.
Hasina said in an interview from London with satellite television channel ATN Bangla that she would make arrangements to return home as soon as possible.
Hasina is facing a charge of abetting the killings of four activists during a political riot in October. She has denied the charge, saying she is determined to return to defend herself.
Local media, meanwhile, reported that Hasina's archrival Zia was under virtual house arrest, and the government was seeking to force both women into exile to ease political tensions ahead of elections planned before the end of next year.
A bitter feud between the women ahead of scheduled elections in January led to deadly street protests, forcing the interim president to cancel the polls and declare a state of emergency.
The government on Wednesday denied it was forcing either of the women into exile.
"There was never any pressure on Zia to go abroad, and there is no restriction on her movements," the government said in a statement.
Release link:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4749543.html
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