From correspondents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 04:03 AM IST

The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh finally released the jailed elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia after he was held for more than a year on charges of corruption, judicial officials said late Wednesay.

Tarique Rahman, who is set to inherit the leadership of Zia's political party, faced a dozen cases of graft filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

'Tarique Rahman has been released temporarily on medical grounds as several specialist doctors have recommended his treatment abroad,' Deputy prison chief Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said.

Rahman's release order was announced after the High Court approved his bail petitions on all the 13 charges of corruption brought against him by the interim regime. Rahman had claimed several ailments following his arrest in March 2007.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)