Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not go abroad on Friday, as the army-backed caretaker government imposed fresh restrictions on her leaving the country.
The government has, meanwhile, deployed additional police, including two platoons of female police and four platoons of riot police near her Sudha Sadan house in Dhaka’s Dhanmandi district. The Bangladesh capital was rife with speculations on Friday that she might be put under house arrest.
Ms Hasina, who is critical of the government, was due to leave for the United States to join her daughter who is expecting a baby. The government says there are corruption cases against her, and she is needed at home for investigations.
“She may not return home if she goes out,” a police investigating officer told a court. “She should not be allowed to leave the country.”
Convinced by the argument, the court asked authorities to notify the restrictions at airport and land immigration offices.

Defiant
Ms Hasina wouldn’t agree with the government action. “Cases have been framed to disqualify me from seeking election,” Ms Hasina, who heads the populist Awami League party, complained. “I have not taken money from anyone. All allegations against me are cooked up.”
She says she is ready to face any situation. “I should be punished, if I have done anything wrong,” she says. “I have never asked anything from anyone.”
Earlier on Thursday, the government stopped her from visiting south-eastern port city of Chittagong where 122 people were killed in Monday’s landslide, caused by heavy rains.
In April, the government had asked foreign and national airlines not to fly her home from London, but she finally arrived in Dhaka triumphantly in the wake of criticism at home and abroad.
Three businessmen have filed cases accusing her of extorting money from them. One of them had contested in the election on Awami League ticket in the past.
The government has also revived old cases, including the purchase of MIG-19 and frigate during her rule (1998-2001), that were filed against her when Khaleda Zia was the prime minister (2001-2006).
She is facing a total of 10 criminal cases, including abetting a murder and extortion of Taka 3 crore from a businessman. “These are false allegations,” she defends herself. “I shall face them.” The caretaker administration had wanted her to stay away to facilitate her party leaders to carry out necessary reforms in the party, but she did not agree.
The army-led joint forces have arrested a number of senior leaders of her party, including general secretary Abdul Jalil and her cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.
They have reportedly told the investigators that she used to take money from businessmen, a charge she has denied.
A group of senior leaders have ganged up in the name of reforms and are virtually challenging her authority.
“We have no other alternative but to carry out reforms in the party,” says Suranjit Sengupta, a party presidium member.