Hasina trial takes off today
Monday, 3 December 2007
A Dhaka court hears extortion charges against Sheikh Hasina today (Monday), setting off the trial of the former prime minister, a lawyer said, reports bdnews24.com.
Judge Md Azizul Hoque of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges' Court, now sited on the Sangsad Bhaban premises, will hear the case. In a decision on Nov 28, the judge set Monday for the hearing.
The court was transferred to the Sangsad Bhaban for security reasons, an official notification had earlier said.
Nov 28 was the early date for starting the trial. But the date was reset to Monday since the defence lawyers said, they did not get the government notification in time on the transfer of the court.
Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman will join the team of the lawyers to defend his party chief in court, said defence counsel Kamrul Islam.
Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim are also accused in the case that involves alleged extortion of Tk 29.9 million from a businessman during her term in 1996-2001.
Rehana, who lives in London, was shown a fugitive in the case, while Selim is in jail. Hasina was arrested from her Dhanmondi home, and was sent to jail hours later on July 16, pending trial. Police formally charged Hasina with extortion on July 24.
On June 13, businessman Azam J Chowdhury filed the case with Gulshan Police Station against Hasina and Selim, accusing them of taking the amount in return for allowing him to build a power plant. Rehana was implicated in the case later by the police.
Hasina and other Awami League leaders denied the charges, which they said, were aimed at tarnishing the image of the former prime minister. Rehana also expressed her surprise over her implication in the case.
Judge Md Azizul Hoque of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges' Court, now sited on the Sangsad Bhaban premises, will hear the case. In a decision on Nov 28, the judge set Monday for the hearing.
The court was transferred to the Sangsad Bhaban for security reasons, an official notification had earlier said.
Nov 28 was the early date for starting the trial. But the date was reset to Monday since the defence lawyers said, they did not get the government notification in time on the transfer of the court.
Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman will join the team of the lawyers to defend his party chief in court, said defence counsel Kamrul Islam.
Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim are also accused in the case that involves alleged extortion of Tk 29.9 million from a businessman during her term in 1996-2001.
Rehana, who lives in London, was shown a fugitive in the case, while Selim is in jail. Hasina was arrested from her Dhanmondi home, and was sent to jail hours later on July 16, pending trial. Police formally charged Hasina with extortion on July 24.
On June 13, businessman Azam J Chowdhury filed the case with Gulshan Police Station against Hasina and Selim, accusing them of taking the amount in return for allowing him to build a power plant. Rehana was implicated in the case later by the police.
Hasina and other Awami League leaders denied the charges, which they said, were aimed at tarnishing the image of the former prime minister. Rehana also expressed her surprise over her implication in the case.