The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Vacation bench of the High Court Thursday stayed the proceedings of the extortion case against Alena Khan, a human rights activist.

The extortion case is now pending with the Chief Metropolitan Court here.

Passing the stay order upon a writ petition Justice AFM Abdur Rahman issued rule upon the government to explain why invoking emergency rules in the extortion case should not be declared unlawful. The court also granted Alena a fresh bail until the rule is disposed of On June 26, a construction contractor of the Roads and Highways (R&H) Department filed an extortion cases with Tejgaon police station against Alina Khan, executive director of Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) along with detained former communication minister Barrister Nazmul Huda and his wife Sigma Huda. Huda is a member of the national committee of the BSEHR while Sigma is its secretary general.

According to the case Huda called Wahidur Rahman Azad, the complainant, to BSEHR office in February 2003 and demanded Tk 10 lakh in cash.

Advocate Asaduzzaman appeared for Alina Khan.