Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group of Companies, filed a case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing Hasina and her two relatives of extorting Tk 5 crore in exchange for mediating between the Power Development Board (PDB) and his firm to finalise a power plant in 1997.

Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of Eastcoast Trading Private Ltd, filed the other case with Gulshan Police Station against Hasina and AL leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim for extorting over Tk 2.99 crore.

Earlier, another case was filed against Hasina on April 9 for extorting Tk 3 crore.

In his complaint, Noor Ali alleged that he also had to give two flats to Rupa Chowdhury, wife of Hasina's cousin Sheikh Helal, after Helal threatened to interrupt the work of Noor's firm.

Noor said of Tk 5 crore, he handed over Tk 3.2 crore in 12 cheques to Hasina at Ganabhaban between June 8, 1997 and May 20, 1999 and the rest Tk 1.8 crore through Helal at different times.

In his statement, Noor said after he provided the Tk 5 crore, the PDB at the mediation of Hasina and Helal issued an offer letter in May 1999 to install the 110MW barge-mounted power plant at Haripur.

He alleged that Helal later demanded Tk 1 crore more or flats worth the same value and threatened to otherwise interfere in the work. Noor said he gave Helal his two flats at Borak Real Estate at Baridhara measuring 5858.24 square feet and Helal and his wife now collect rents of the flats.

Noor sought AL nomination for the cancelled January 22 elections but was refused. Sources said the joint forces interrogated him over the last few days on different matters including the MiG-29 purchase scam.

In his complaint, Azam said Russian power generation company Techno Prom Export (TPE) obtained work order for the first phase of erecting and commissioning of Siddhirganj power plant in Narayanganj in 2000.

He said his company Eastcoast Trading Private Ltd was appointed as the local agent of the Russian company when Sheikh Hasina was the prime minister.

In July 2000, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim threatened to stop the work.

Sheikh Selim received over Tk 2.99 crore in eight cheques between October 24, 2000 and March 14, 2001.

NOOR ALI'S CASE
Noor Ali mentioned in the FIR that the PDB invited tenders in 1996 for installing three barge-mounted power plants in Narayanganj, Shikalbaha and Khulna.

New England Power Company (NEPC) of USA and Fortune Limited, a sister concern of Unique Group of Companies, jointly participated in the bidding and came out as the lowest bidder for all the tenders. Noor was the managing director of Fortune Limited.

The PDB in a letter in March 1997 asked the NEPC to finalise the negotiations.

According to the plaintiff, Hasina's cousin Helal went to his Banani residence at the end of 1997 and told him that he would have to pay money to Apa (Hasina) although he came out as the lowest bidder.

Noor mentioned in the FIR that he discussed the matter with his partners and several negotiation meetings were held between Helal and the officials of Fortune Limited at Helal's Gulshan residence and Noor's office.

The complainant said as he refused to pay the amount Helal at Hasina's directive forced him to promise that he would give the money to Hasina in person.

He said Fortune Limited Chairman Mokbul Hossain, Director Abdur Rouf and accountant Khaled were aware of the dealings.

Noor also said he is filing the case now with the hope to get justice as caretaker government is in power now.

AZAM CHY's CASE
In the FIR, Azam J Chowdhury mentioned that Shiekh Hasina's cousin former lawmaker Sheikh Selim tried to be the local agent of Russian company TPE. Selim on different occasions tried to influence the TPE chief to serve his purpose, he added.

After all his attempts turned futile, Selim started putting pressure and Azam met Selim at his Banani residence with the proposal of appointing him as consultant for the second phase of the work and told him that a large amount of commission would be provided to Selim during the phase, the complainant said.

Angry about the proposal, Selim threatened to stop the work with the help of Sheikh Hasina if the commission was not paid, the FIR said, adding that meetings for a negotiation over dealings of the money continued at Selim's residence.

Selim also threatened that the complainant would not able to withdraw any bill from PDB if he did not pay a commission from the work. The threats were issued between June and July, 2000, the complainant said.

In July, 2000, they reached a verbal agreement of paying two per cent commission amounting $5.8 lakh (equivalent to a little over Tk 2.99 crore) to Selim, Azam said. The commission was paid at Selim's residence in eight cheques of Standard Chartered Bank and Southeast Bank from October 24, 2000 to February 14, 2001, he added.

Selim did not interfere with the work after the commission was paid, the complainant said, adding that many people including the executives of his company are aware of the matter of taking the commission by Selim.

PREVIOUS CASE AGAINST HASINA
Tajul Islam Farook, chairman of Westmont Power Company, filed the extortion case against Hasina with Tejgaon Police Station under non-bailable sections of the penal code.

Tajul complained of extortion and abuse of power by Hasina in 1998 when she was the prime minister.