Reuters reports Bangladesh's army-backed interim government has imposed more stringent rules under emergency powers to deal with corruption and crime, suspending rights of the accused to seek bail during trial and investigation of cases.

More than 160 senior political figures, including the son of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, have been detained over the past three months to face charges of corruption and abuse of power in a nationwide campaign to clean up politics.

Under rules issued late on Wednesday, the government said the detainees will not be entitled to bail while the trial is on, which it promised to conclude in 45 days.

It also said powers had been given to the newly-constituted Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate, arrest or seize property of suspects without the permission of the government.