DHAKA, May 14 (Reuters) Police arrested today retired army brigadier Hannan Shah, a top adviser to Bangladesh's former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, officials of her party said.

They said police picked up Shah in the afternoon from his residence in the capital's Gulshan area, and took him to a police station.

No other details were immediately available.

Shah had come out strongly to defend Khaleda and her family when they were reportedly being pressed by the country's army-backed interim government to go into exile.

The government denied it had urged Khaleda to leave the country, but Shah told reporters yesterday he knew for certain that authorities had sought her departure for an unknown destination.

Shah also criticised senior leaders of Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for keeping quiet or demanding a change in the party's leadership. He gave no details.

Khaleda's elder son and political heir apparent Tareque Rahman has been in jail since March, facing charges of extortion and abuse of power while his mother ruled the country for five years until October 2006.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January 11 and an election planned for January. 22 was cancelled.

Political activities have also been banned.

REUTERS AB RK1530