Dhaka urged to probe army deaths

Amnesty want the army's methods to be investigated

Amnesty International has urged Bangladesh to investigate the deaths of a number of criminal suspects in army custody.

The human rights group's call came as it was confirmed that a seventh person had died after being detained by troops since they and police began a massive drive against crime a week ago.

The government must bring to justice any... personnel involved in the torture of detainees

Amnesty International

Nazmul Haque was picked up by soldiers in the north-western city of Rajshahi on Wednesday afternoon and, according to officials, died later the same night.

Troops are accused of torturing the suspects to death. Officials say almost all the seven deaths were caused by heart attacks.

But the fatalities have led to growing concerns about the way the crackdown, dubbed "Operation Clean Heart", is being carried out.

'Torture'

Amnesty wants all political opponents detained in the sweep to be released.

A statement said: "The government must bring to justice any army or police personnel involved in the torture of detainees, and clarify the legal status of the army's involvement in arrests of civilians."

Amnesty want to know the legal status of the army

The opposition Awami League alleges that its members have been targeted in the crackdown, and called a half-day general strike in the capital, Dhaka, on Thursday in protest.

The action passed off largely peacefully.

The armed forces, 40,000 of whose members are taking part in the operation, have arrested more than 2,000 people so far from around the country since being mobilised seven days ago.

The government says the army had to be called in because the civil authorities were failing to cope with rising lawlessness.

Ex-minister in court

One of two opposition former ministers rounded up by troops was produced in court on Thursday.

Saber Hussain Choudhury, political secretary to opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, was remanded in custody for questioning for a further three days.

Amnesty International has acknowledged that members of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have also been detained.

But the human rights group say more than a dozen detainees have been sent to hospital with "severe injuries reportedly caused by beatings while in army custody".

The prime minister's Islamist-allied coalition swept to power in October 2001 on promises to tackle crime, but has been embarrassed by reports of rising violence.

The government insists its anti-crime sweep is not politically biased.