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Former Bangladesh PM, six ministers face corruption charges

Two months after Bangladesh Awami League was voted out of power, corruption cases were filed against its chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and six of her senior former Cabinet colleagues.

Hasina, currently on a trip to Britain and the United States, is accused in two cases of alleged financial irregularities to the tune of 122 million dollars. If convicted, she could face jail, a fine or both.

Her former ministerial colleagues charged in the cases, include home and telecommunications minister Mohammad Nasim, works minister Mosharraf Hossain, state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, state minister for power Rafiqul Islam, state minister for jute A K Faizul Haq and deputy minister for local government and rural development Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

Hasina, when asked to comment on the filing of cases against her, is reported to have told scribes in London that she would fight the cases.

Cases were also filed against nearly 40 former and in-service officials, including the Comptroller General, on Tuesday in Dhaka police stations by the government's anti-corruption bureau, reports said.

Awami League on Wednesday reacted sharply to the graft and other charges brought against the former premier and six other ministers and termed the action 'politically motivated'.

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