960423

Ershad starts

hunger strike

for release

from jail

DHAKA: Bangladesh's jailed former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad was on hunger strike Tuesday to press for his release to take part in upcoming general elections.

Ershad stopped taking food Monday to press the demand, his wife Raushan Ershad told the Independent newspaper.

The paper also quoted an unidentified prison officer as saying "we cannot say anything about it, it is a secret."

Jail officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Ershad, 66, is serving a 13-year jail term, for graft and faces a dozen more simimar charges.-AFP