Deposition in Hasina case deferred again

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A Dhaka court Monday deferred witness deposition for the fourth time in a Tk 30 million (3.0 crore) extortion case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others, as the plaintiff reported sick, reports bdnews24.com. brMd Ashraf Hossain of Special Sessions Judge's Court-5 set a new date of Sept 23 after the prosecution lawyers requested two weeks' time. brOn August 28, the High Court bench of justices Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Mashuk Hossain Ahmed ordered the government to show cause within six weeks why the case proceedings should not be declared illegal. brBusinessman Azam J Chowdhury filed the case with Gulshan police on June 13 last year against Sheikh Hasina and her cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim. Later, charges were also pressed against Sheikh Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana. brThe case alleged that the accused took Tk 29.9 million (2.99 crore) in bribes from the plaintiff during 2001, while Awami League was in power, in exchange for a contract to set up Siddhirganj power station. brHasina was arrested on July 16 last year and was shown arrested in the case, the same day, after the case was brought under EPR. brThe government released Sheikh Hasina on parole for eight weeks on June 11. She is currently in the US seeking medical treatment.