Bangladesh's military-backed interim government has eased the emergency rules relaxing the provision for bail for the family members of the prime accused in graft and other cases.

'If any petition is filed for bail for any person who is co-accused in any case, and who is the wife or mother or mother-in-law or son (not above 18 years) or unmarried daughter of the principal accused, the court or tribunal will have the right to dispose of the bail petition,' said a notification amending the rules.

Earlier, the emergency rules barred any accused from seeking bail in any court or tribunal during the inquiry, investigation and trial of a case.

The rules, as amended on Monday, empowered the courts to take 15 more days to conclude the trial while earlier those were needed to be completed in 45 days.

The amendment came as spouses and other family members of a number of corruption suspect high-profile politicians were detained as part of a massive anti-graft campaign being spearheaded by the current interim government since its installation on January 12 this year.

Rights activists and legal experts earlier urged the authorities to amend the tough rule when the security forces arrested the wife, a young daughter and a son of former state minister for energy Iqbal Hassan Mahmud of now detained ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia's government.

They were charged for abetting the corruption of the ex-state minister, detained earlier.