Dhaka - Areas in Bangladesh's northern and central region were inundated Saturday, submerging a fourth of the country, as authorities warned of more floods and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

Officials in the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre in the capital Dhaka said the major rivers in the country were above danger levels and nearly 20 out of 64 administrative districts were flooded.

Crops were destroyed, enclosures washed away and people rendered homeless as the waters collapsed flood protection embankments at several points.

Dhaka, Sep. 5 : While one can find Gurudwarars or Sikh shrines, in almost every part of the world, the Gurudwara Nanak Shahi in Bangaladesh’s national capital holds a great significance among visitors here.

Described to be the largest of the seven well-known Gurdwaras in the Bangladesh, Gurdwara Nanak Shahi enjoys great historic significance as it commemorates the visit of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev to Dhaka.

It is said in circa 1506-1507, while being on his way to further East, Sikhs’ Guru Nanak Dev had visited this place. However, the Gurdwara was built three centuries later in
1830.

Dhaka, Sept 5 : The former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is languishing in a prison for over a year on graft charges, may be freed on bail by next week, claimed her lawyers.

A day after Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman, who was being tried in a number of corruption charges was released, the Prothom Alo newspaper quoted one of Zia''''s counsels as saying, "We expect her to be released as she now needs bail from courts in only two cases."

However, a senior government leader said that she would have to go through legal procedures for her release.

Dhaka  - Floods in northern and central Bangladesh displaced thousands of families Thursday as rescuers braced for another day of heavy rains, officials said.

A spokesperson for the Disaster Management Office said nearly 50,000 people were stranded on "floating" villages in inundated central Faridpur district.

At least three children drowned in the district as they tried to cross a river on a raft. Local officials earlier said eight people died in the floods.

The district administration mobilized an estimated 5,000 rescue workers and civilian volunteers to help evacuate nearly 12,000 desperate families who need to be moved to dry land.

Dhaka  - The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh set free Wednesday the jailed elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia who was held for more than a year on charges of corruption, judicial officials said.

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

Dhaka - The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh Wednesday 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.

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," said deputy prison chief Shamsul Haider Siddiqui.