Hasina files writs challenging Noor Ali's case, ACC notice

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Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina filed Sunday two writ petitions challenging the legality of government action incorporating another extortion case against her under the stringent Emergency Power Rules (EPR) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) notice asking her to submit wealth statement, report agencies.
Her lawyers filed the writ petition after securing permission from the bench of Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury.
Both the petitions may be heard today (Monday) by a High Court (HC) division bench, comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, said Barrister Fazle Noor Tapash, a counsel for Hasina.
On June 13, the extortion case was filed with Tejgaon police station by Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group of companies, implicating the former premier and Awami League chief under section 385/109 of the Bangladesh Penal Code for extorting Tk 50 million as toll.
Noor Ali filed the case alleging he was forced to pay the amount to Hasina for giving him nomination to contest in parliamentary election in 2001.
Hasina's cousin ex-AL lawmaker Sheikh Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury were also made accused in the case.
A counsel for Hasina told newsmen that although Hasina had been shown arrested in the extortion case, but it is still under investigation stage and police are yet to submit charge sheet or final report to the concerned court.
In the meantime, the government by "abusing its power" brought the case under the EPR barring her from getting bail at any stage of trial process, the counsel said. "These are the grounds to be raised before the court for redress."
About the legality of the ACC notice asking the detained former Prime Minister for submitting her wealth statement, the counsel said an ACC deputy director cannot issue such a notice to a former Prime Minister, rather the commission itself should have done it.
Sunday was the deadline for a reply to her legal notice. As the ACC did not respond to it in time, Hasina's lawyer filed the writ petition with the High Court.