The charges of extortion brought against Tarique and Apu were primarily proved and they should be tried under the Speedy Trial (Law and Order Disruption) Act, the investigation officer (IO) of the case said in the charge sheet.

Tarique, also senior joint secretary general of BNP, allegedly used to pull rank on the administration and always seemed beyond the reach of law enforcers during the BNP-Jamaat government's rule.

He was arrested at his mother's cantonment residence in a midnight raid on March 8 and is now in Dhaka Central Jail while Apu is still at large.

Earlier during a four-day remand, the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) extensively grilled Tarique about the extortion case and other allegations of graft and extortion allegedly carried out by him, his friends and sidekicks at the BNP chairperson's party office Hawa Bhaban at Banani, sources said.

IO Sub-Inspector Mahbub Morshed submitted the charge sheet to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka yesterday afternoon, showing 12 people as prosecution witnesses. The investigation had been completed in seven workdays as per provision of the Speedy Trial Act.

The IO said he had visited the place of occurrence, prepared a sketch map and recorded statements of the witnesses.

He prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against Apu and sought court order to attach his movable properties.

The charge sheet will be placed today before the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Abdur Rouf Khan where the trial of the case will be conducted.

Tarique may be produced before the same court today as it was fixed earlier for the next hearing.

Meanwhile, the hearing of the defence lawyers' bail petition--earlier rejected by the lower court on March 8--will be held at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka today.

Amin Ahmed, owner of Al-Amin Constructions, filed the extortion case with the Gulshan Police Station on March 8 and mentioned that he could not file the case earlier due to fear of reprisal.

Amin was a BNP candidate for the scrapped January 22 parliamentary election from Noakhali-4 constituency.

In the case Amin mentioned that a few days ago Tarique called him over telephone and asked him to go to Hawa Bhaban. As he went to Hawa Bhaban, Tarique demanded Tk 1 crore as extortion and said if he failed to comply with the demand he would not be allowed to run his firm.

A few days later, Amin went to Hawa Bhaban with a cheque of Tk 1 crore, but Tarique refused to take it and demanded hard cash.

Later on January 4, Amin's brother Faruq Ahmed withdrew Tk 1 crore from the Banani Branch of Dhaka Bank and gave the money to Apu at Hawa Bhaban, Amin said, adding that over telephone Tarique later acknowledged receiving the money.

Amin, a BNP leader of Chatkhil in Noakhali, said he filed the case after hearing the news that Tarique was arrested.