Trial against Hasina restarts January 30
Trial of the extortion case filed against former premier and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina resumes on Wednesday about two weeks after the High Court stayed proceedings of the case on January 17.
Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Azizul Haque yesterday fixed January 30-31 for trial in the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury on June 13 last year.
The trial resumes at a time when the complainant on January 24 claimed he didn't file the case against Hasina and the defence is preparing to move with the comment.
The Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge made the decision as the Supreme Court on January 24 cleared obstacles in holding the trial under the Emergency Powers Rules by vacating the HC stay.
On January 17, the HC stayed proceedings of the case until disposal of a rule pending in an HC bench following an application filed by Hasina to that end.
Just couple of hours before the HC stay came, the court dealing with the extortion case fixed January 21, 22 and 23 for trial. The SC vacated the HC stay following an appeal by the government.
The trial court on January 13 framed charges against Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in connection with the case.
Earlier on July 30 last year, Hasina filed a writ with the HC challenging bringing the case under the EPR when the HC issued a rule on the government to explain why bringing it under the EPR should not be declared illegal. The rule is still pending with the HC.
The joint forces held Hasina on July 16 and later that day a magistrate's court sent her to a sub-jail on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex. The same day the home ministry issued an approval for the case to be taken under the EPR, 2007.
Azam filed the case against former cabinet minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim and Hasina accusing them of taking about Tk 3 crore in return for allowing him to set up a power plant during the AL rule in 1996-2001.
Sheikh Rehana was also charged with taking a portion of the extorted money in the supplementary charge sheet. Rehana is being tried in absentia as she lives in London.
Meanwhile, Hasina yesterday filed a petition with the HC for quashing the extortion case.
The petition is likely to be heard next week.
Hasina's counsel filed the petition arguing that there are no allegations in the charge sheet, first information report and any other documents and records against Hasina. The lawyer said the case was filed with "political motivation".
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