Students and teachers at Bangladesh's biggest university went on a strike yesterday to protest against the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, in defiance of emergency laws.

Most of the 30,000 students and 4,000 staff of Dhaka University joined the boycott of lectures and classes, and manychanted slogans and marched around the sprawling campus, demanding Hasina's release.

"We abstained from duties to protest against arrest and harassment of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina," Dhaka University Teachers president Sadrul Amin said.

Hasina, chief of the Awami League, was arrested at her home on July 16 and sent to jail to face extortion charges.

Police filed two cases against Hasina in June for extorting 80 million taka ($1.16 million, BD438,480) from two businessmen. Her arrest was related to one of those cases.

The strike was peaceful but authorities tightened security around the university campus amid threats of more protests.

Hasina fears she may not get a fair trial under the army-backed interim government, said her lawyer Abdul Matin Khasru, who served as law minister during Hasina's 1996-2001 tenure.

"I may not get justice, because they filed the case to expel me from politics and block my candidature in the coming election," Khasru quoted Hasina as saying.

Lawyers said if convicted, Hasina may have to serve three to five years in jail and won't be eligible for elections.

Hasina told her lawyer she had been harassed during her arrest.

"They can't mistreat a leader of a major political party and a former prime minister in such a manner," Hasina said.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January when an army-backed interim administration took over and launched a crackdown on politicians ahead of elections planned for late next year.

Political activities and public protests have been banned under the emergency laws, which the administration said was necessary to fight corruption.

More than 170 political figures including Tareque Rahman, Khaleda's elder son, have been detained for graft and abuse of power.

PHOTO CAPTION

Bangladeshi policemen stand guard in front of the residence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed during her arrest. (AFP)