Hasina's trial adjourned until July 1

A special court yesterday adjourned the trial of the barge-mounted power plant case filed against former premier and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina and six others till July 1, as a petition to quash the case is pending at the High Court (HC).
Judge M Firoz Alam of Special Court-1 passed the order after hearing arguments from the prosecution and the defence.
Hasina's attorney advocate Abdul Mannan Khan told reporters, "Since the case documents are not in this court, the court fixed the next hearing on July 1." All the documents of the case are now at the HC division as the petition for quashing the case is awaiting judgement of the HC, he added.
In the meantime, a High Court bench yesterday fixed June 30 for delivering its judgement on the petition filed by Hasina for quashing the case.
The HC bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed fixed the date following the conclusion of hearing on the petition.
At the special court, advocate Sahara Khatun represented the AL chief who had been exempted from attending court proceedings due to health reasons. Former energy and power secretary Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, a co-accused in the case, was produced before the court.
ACC Deputy Director SM Sabbir Hasan filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Hasina and six others on September 2 last year under the Emergency Power Rules.
On June 2 this year, Hasina filed the petition with the HC, with a plea to quash the case against her.
Hasina's counsel barrister Shafique Ahmed told the HC bench yesterday that his client was not involved in any corruption and the case was filed with intent to harass her politically.
HASINA'S MEDICAL TREATMENT
Hasina's medical check-up started on Tuesday at a clinic in Orange, Connecticut.
At the clinic Hasina underwent thorough examination under the supervision of Nasiha Fahmi, an assistant clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicine.
Since various tests including EKG conducted on the AL president suggested that she has irregular heartbeat and anaemia, Dr Fahmi's clinic referred her to Yale University School of Medicine under renowned cardiologist Sandeep Mukherjee, an associate professor at the medical school.
After she was taken to Yale, specialist doctors there examined her thoroughly and prescribed a few medicines for the irregularity in her heartbeat. They also advised her to take complete rest and drink plenty of liquids.
Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy told The Daily Star yesterday that Dr Philip Silverstone, an eye surgeon at Yale, conducted examination on his mother's eyes and detected persistent problems in her left eye. The doctor has recommended further advanced investigation, added Joy.
American News Agency (ANA) reports: The AL chief would have to wait a few more days to get all medical reports in hand. "Next steps will be taken after getting all the medical reports," Joy told ANA over the phone yesterday morning.
Hasina requested everyone to pray for her early recovery, Joy added.
"When they [the Yale medical school authorities] found out that the patient is a daughter of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, a former prime minister who had been victimised and detained for long and has come to the US for treatment with temporary freedom, they did not charge her any fee," the ANA report added saying that Hasina also thanked the hospital for the honour.
Meanwhile, different AL chapters in the US including New York, Florida, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Michigan and Texas held special prayers yesterday for the early recovery of their party chief.