[JURIST] A Bangladeshi court has given former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia [UN profile] a 30-day extension to appear in court, Zia's lawyer Mohammad Sanaullah said Sunday. Zia, who was scheduled to appear before the court for tax evasion charges on Sunday, had requested additional time on the grounds that current security conditions barred her from appearing in court. Last week, student protests against the military-backed interim government, which has passed emergency laws [JURIST report] allowing detention without warrants or specific charges, turned violent, resulting in hundreds of injuries and one death. The court has given Zia until September 27 to appear before the court.

Last Wednesday, mass protests prompted the government to impose an indefinite curfew [JURIST report]. Human Rights Watch has urged [press release; JURIST report] the Bangladeshi government to adhere to international human rights standards, insisting that "anyone detained under emergency regulations must be charged with a cognizable criminal offense or released." The interim government has also filed extortion charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed [party profile; JURIST news archive]. AFP has more.

8:34 PM ET – Bangladeshi authorities lifted the curfew Monday, saying the security situation has improved. BBC News has more.