DHAKA, July 22 (Reuters) - Students and teachers at Bangladesh's biggest university went on a strike on Sunday to protest against the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in defiance of emergency laws.

Students and teachers chanted slogans and marched inside the sprawling campus of Dhaka University, demanding Hasina's release.

"We abstained from duties to protest against arrest and harassment of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina," Sadrul Amin, president of the Dhaka University Teachers Association told reporters.

Hasina, chief of the Awami League, was arrested at her home on July 16 and sent to jail to face extortion charges.

Police filed two cases against Hasina in June for extorting 80 million taka ($1.16 million) from two businessmen. Her arrest was related to one of those cases.

Sunday's strike was peaceful but authorities tightened security around the university campus amid threats of more protests.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January when an army-backed interim administration took over and launched a crackdown on politicians ahead of elections planned for late next year.

Political activities and public protests have been banned under the emergency laws which the administration said was necessary to fight corruption.

More than 170 political figures have been detained for graft and abuse of power.

On Sunday, a former lawmaker from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was jailed for 20 years on Sunday for amassing wealth illegally.

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