HC lifts stay on Hasina case

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A High Court (HC) bench Tuesday revoked its previous order that halted the proceedings of an extortion case filed in 2007 by businessman Azam J Chowdhury against Sheikh Hasina, in what could be seen as a first step towards withdrawal of the case itself, reports bdnews24.com.
The bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Mamtaj Uddin Ahmed made the order on a petition filed by the Prime Minister. A lawyer for Hasina said the step was necessary to process her petition to withdraw the case.
Azam Chowdhury has maintained that he did not want to sue Hasina and indicated he was forced to sign the case documents under pressure from certain quarters in the military-installed caretaker government.
The HC on September 16 last year granted bail to Hasina and stayed the proceedings of the case.
Barrister Rafiq-ul-Huq attended the hearing on behalf of Hasina while barrister Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh assisted him.