Hearing adjourned until May 6
The special court yesterday adjourned charge-framing hearing in the barge-mounted power plant graft case against detained former premier Sheikh Hasina till May 6 after the defence completed arguments on discharge petition submitted for exempting her from the case.
Since submission of the petition on April 3, Hasina's counsel had seven sittings with the court to complete their argument. Hasina, in the meantime, continued complaining about her ill health and physical inability to appear before the court and thrice fell sick inside courtroom.
The Awami League chief yesterday also complained once again the authorities concerned continued resorting to "as many means as possible to harass her" mentally by keeping her in solitary confinement.
Hasina yesterday also expressed concern over the CNG price hike in addition to the government's failure to check price spiralling of essentials.
"My family doctors were excluded much earlier and now the doctors treating me in jail have also been changed," she said.
"This is nothing but putting all kinds of pressure on me. They are undertaking as many means as possible to harass me mentally by keeping me in solitary confinement.
"They have filed cases against me. No problem. Reduce prices of essentials. Save the people. And now they have increased CNG price while the bus owners are benefited taking advantage of this opportunity. And they cannot control this situation.
"The CNG price hike has only one implication that it just adds insult to injury. People's sufferings have increased once again.
"A country is considered below poverty line when it cannot ensure 2,100 calorie food per head daily. The present rate in Bangladesh is 1,800 calorie, while it was 2,300 calorie during my tenure," Hasina added.
Hasina also mentioned that many attempts have been made on her life including the August 21 grenade attack and January 24 attack that killed many people. She mentioned that during the grenade attack she herself witnessed an AL activist dying while trying to save her.
"None can do harm to anyone when Allah wants their survival," Hasina said.
The Special Court-1 sat at around 9:30am and continued the proceedings until noon.
As Hasina's counsel began argument on the petition, Judge Firoz Alam said it is rare that the defence continued hearing on a discharge petition for the seventh consecutive day.
The judge also asked them to finish arguments on the petition saying that no more time would be given to the defence on this issue. He also mentioned that the next sitting of the court would hold hearing on other accused in the case.
Counsels of former energy secretary Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, another accused in the case, told journalists they would submit another discharge petition in the next date for exempting their client.
After completing argument on the submission, Hasina's chief counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed told the court there are not enough "ingredients" in the documents submitted as evidence of Hasina's offences.
"So my client should be cleared of the charges in accordance with the law," Shafique added.
Arguments submitted for exemption
Regarding the trial being held at a time when Hasina does not feel well, the defence argued that in that case she might not be able to even hear the charges brought against her.
The defence argued that the first information report, charge sheet and other documents do not have any "ingredients" to charge her with offences.
They also said the case cannot be brought under the Emergency Power Rules and their client is being deprived of legal, constitutional and fundamental rights.
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