[JURIST] Opposition leader and former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed [Wikipedia profile] has been exiled from Bangladesh [JURIST news archive] by President Iajuddin Ahmed's emergency government, according to a Bangladeshi Ministry of Home Affairs [official website] statement confirmed to the AFP by military officials on Wednesday. Bangladeshi authorities have alerted airlines operating flights to Bangladesh and immigration departments in ports of entry that Wajed, who is currently in the US, is not permitted to enter the country. Last week, Wajed was charged [JURIST report] in absentia with four counts of murder arising from the deaths of four protesters during political turmoil in October. Wajed suggested she would return despite the charges and her government-imposed exile.

Earlier this week, Ahmed's government and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia [Virtual Bangladesh profile] reportedly reached an agreement to exile Zia [AFP report] from Bangladesh in exchange for the release [JURIST report] of her son Arafat Rahman, who was arrested [JURIST report] the day before on corruption allegations. Ahmed declared a state of emergency January 11 [JURIST report] and later indefinitely postponed elections scheduled for January 22 after the collapse of a caretaker government in the face of violent protests over election procedures. In the wake of the emergency declaration, Bangladeshi authorities detained over 2,500 people [JURIST report] and have raided the homes of several political leaders, making multiple arrests [JURIST report]. AFP has more.