[JURIST] The Bangladeshi Appellate Division of the Supreme Court [official backgrounder] ruled Thursday that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed [party profile] can be detained and prosecuted under emergency laws declared by the interim emergency government, overturning the High Court Division's Monday ruling that suspended Hasina's extortion trial [JURIST report]. Hasina's lawyers had argued that she cannot be charged under the new laws because her alleged offenses originate from circumstances dating over eight years ago, before the government came to power in January. The emergency laws [JURIST report], which allow detention without warrants or specific charges, have prevented Hasina from posting bail.

The emergency government [JURIST report], which has the backing of the military, has used its anti-corruption campaign [BBC Q&A; JURIST news archive] to justify the emergency laws, and has also filed tax evasion charges against Hasina's rival, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia [UN profile], who is scheduled to appear in court on August 26. AFP has more.