Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her Dhaka home on Monday and taken to a local court, her party said.

It was not immediately clear on what charges Hasina was detained, but she has previously faced murder charges during political violence late last year and allegations of extortion.

She has denied those charges.

Television channels showed hundreds of policmen escorting Hasina, the chief of the Awami League party, to a metropolitan court.

An Awami League official confirmed Hasina had been detained and lawyers said she could be remanded to custody for interrogation.

Police had surrounded Hasina's house since Sunday midnight, witnesses said.

Bangladesh is under a state of emergency imposed by an army-backed interim administration which took charge in January and launched a crackdown on politicians ahead of elections planned for late next year. - Reuters