Bangladeshi politician in assault charge

Police in Bangladesh have arrested a senior member of the country's main opposition Awami League party after a woman claimed she had been physically assaulted by him.

Police, who arrested the former MP Kamal Ahmed Majumder at his home in Dhaka, say that the case filed by the woman alleged that she had been physically assaulted by Mr Majumber on a number of occasions.

Mr Majumder's family say the charges have been brought to harrass him.

Last month, another former Awami League MP was arrested on charges of extortion, prompting oppositon claims that the actions of the new government of the prime minister, Khaleda Zia were politically motivated.

The government also filed corruption charges against the former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, four of her former cabinet colleagues and several senior government officials.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service