Govt appeals HC halt to Hasina's trial, court shift

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The government Monday appealed against the High Court (HC) orders halting the trial of the extortion case filed by businessman Azam Jahangir Chowdhury against Sheikh Hasina and the transfer of a court to Sangsad Bhaban to try the former prime minister (PM), reports bdnews24.com.
Chamber judge Md Hasan Amin sent the government appeal to the full bench of the Supreme Court (SC) for hearing Tuesday.
The court, however, did not halt Sunday's HC order that halted proceedings of the case for three months.
A two-member HC panel of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abdul Awal halted the case proceedings and relocation of the court of Dhaka Metropolitan District and Sessions Judge-the trial court for Hasina-to Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
It also asked the government to explain why the court relocation order would not be declared illegal.
Barrister Rafique-ul Huq and Barrister Shafiq Ahmed appeared for the former prime minister. The state was represented by the additional attorney general Salahuddin Ahmed.
Salahuddin said the government had the right to shift court in consultation with the SC on security reasons.
On November 29, an acting secretary to the Law Ministry ordered the court be shifted to the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area and the trial of the case conducted there.
A writ petition was filed on behalf of Sheikh Hasina Sunday morning challenging the government order.
The case accused Hasina of taking about Tk 30 million (3.0 crore) during her 1996-2001 term in return for allowing him to build a power plant.
Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim were also accused in the case.
All of them rejected the charges, and the Awami League said the charges were aimed at tarnishing the image of the party chief. Hasina believed the charges were designed to prevent her from contesting next polls.