AL Chief Sheikh Hasina arrested, sent to jail hajot

Dhaka, July 16 (UNB)-Former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her Dhanmondi Sudha Sadan residence this (Monday) morning in a corruption case and sent to a jail hajot in parliament building complex.. She was arrested in an extortion case involving Tk 2.99 crore filed by Azam Chowdhury, Managing Director, East Coast Pvt Ltd in Gulshan thana early June. After more than two hours of hearing on her bail petition Magistrate Mosammat Qamrunnahar ordered to send Sheikh Hasina to jail hajot. At about 10:15am She was taken to a make-shift jail in parliament building complex where former President HM Ershad was detained. Court sources said some 50 lawyers led by Barrister Aminul Islam and Adv Shahara Khatun stood for Sheikh Hasina for bail. The court rejected the bail petition and sent her to court hajot. Awami League supporters chanted slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” and “Don’t get afraid, we are with you” as Hasina was taken from the CMM court to the jail hajot. Earlier, more than 500 police and elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided "Sudha Sadan" at about 4:15 am. After little over three hours, she was picked up by the law enforcers at about 7:34 am and drove her in a black jeep straight to a magistrate court.Hasina wearing a white saree with head scarf and a tajbih in hand reached the court of Magistrate Mosammat Qamrunnahar at about 7:45 am amidst tight security. She looked resolute and flashed a smile and waved her hand to journalists and press photographers thronged the CMM court.