Dhaka: Nineteen high-ranking leaders of Bangladesh's twomain political parties, including eight former ministers, were sent todetention by a court here after being arrested by security forces on charges ofanti-state activities, sabotage and corruption.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shafiq Anwar turned down the bail petitions of leadersof Bangladesh National Party and Awami League and sent them to Dhaka CentralJail after 15 of them were produced before him yesterday by security forceswith detention proposal under the Special Powers Act.

However, former minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, former BNP lawmaker andmedia tycoon Mosaddak Ali Falu and Abdul Bhuiyan, who had been arrested duringthe joint forces' drive early Sunday, were not produced before the court.

Although the court did not specify the duration of detention, lawyers said thearrestees might primarily be put under a 30-day detention.

"As they were arrested under section 16 (2) of Emergency Power Ordinance2007 and there is a proposal from the home ministry for their detention, thiscourt is rejecting their bail prayers," judge Shafiq Anwar was quoted assaying by "Daily Star' newspaper today.

Assistant Commissioner (prosecution) Mokbul Hossain, while reading out thepolice forwarding reports, said the arrestees were charged with anti-stateactivities, sabotage, corruption, and endangering public safety.

All the 19 need to be put behind bars for the sake of public safety, he toldthe court, placing a detention proposal under the Special Powers Act.

Meanwhile, the joint forces arrested BNP leader and former forest andenvironment minister Tariqul Islam, and another former lawmaker of the partyRashiduzzaman Millat from their houses last night.