Two more extortion cases against Hasina

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Former prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina Wednesday was charged with two more cases for extorting Tk 80 million (8 crore) from two businessmen, police said, reports bdnews24.com.
Businessman Noor Ali filed a Tk 50 million (5 crore) case with Tejgaon Police Station, sub-inspector Asad of Tejgaon Police Station confirmed the news to the agency Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of Eastcoast Trading Limited, filed another case with Gulshan Police Station accusing Hasina and her cousin Awami League leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim of squeezing Tk 29.90 million (2.99 crore) from him.
Duty officer Sub-inspector Mohammad Rawshan Ali confirmed the news.
When contacted, Hasina's special assistant Hasan Mahmud declined to comment on the cases.
The latest two cases take the number of extortion cases against Hasina to three, all filed during the state of emergency.
The first extortion case was filed against the Awami League chief on April 9.
Tajul Islam Faruk from Habiganj filed the Tk 30 million (3 crore) case when Hasina was away in the US.
Noor Ali in the case details said he had handed 12 cheques of Standard Chartered Bank and IFIC Bank to Sheikh Hasina in Gono Bhaban when she was the prime minister.
He said he had paid the money to get permission for his business firm Fortune Ltd to set up three power plants in Haripur of Naryanganj, in Shikalbaha of Chittagong and in Khulna.
Fortune Ltd Chairman Makbul Hossain, Managing Director Abdur Rouf and accountant Khaled accompanied Ali to the police station.
Two other accused in the case are Hasina's cousin Sheikh Helaluddin and his wife Rupa Chowdhury.
Ali alleged Sheikh Helal demanded Tk 10 million (1 crore) or a flat worth the sum for helping him to get the permission. Ali handed over the documents of two flats to Rupa.
The two flats in House no 20 in Borak Real State, Baridhara, are now rented.
Tejgaon police chief Jan-e-Alam said primary investigation into the case has begun.
In the other case, Azam Chowdhury alleged Sheikh Selim, the prime accused in the case, and Hasina had taken Tk 29.90 million (2.99 crore) in 2000-01 in instalments in exchange for permission to set up Siddhirganj Power Plant in Narayanganj.
Chowdhury, who filed the case in person, said he had paid the money through eight cheques of Standard Chartered Bank and Southeast Bank.