The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

Senior Special Judge of Dhaka yesterday fixed December 3 for charge hearing of the extortion case filed against former Prime Minister detained Sheikh Hasina and her cousin former Minister detained Sheikh Selim.

Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and other accused Sheikh Selim were not produced before the court yesterday. While Sheikh Rehana was allegedly involved in the extortion, which Sheikh Selim told the court in his confessional statement. She has been absconding since her involvement was established with the case. Next time process will be, held in the make-shift special court set up at the Parliament House of the capital.

It has been learnt as security arrangement was not enough the accused were not produced before the court of Md Azizul Haque, Judge of the Special Court and also Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka yesterday.

On June 13, this year Ajam J Chowdhury, a businessman filed the case against Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Selim with Gulshan Thana of the city for extorting Taka 2,99,65,500 in connection with allowing him to do renovation and repair work of Siddhirganj Power Station in Narayanganj.

Turning down defence plea for staying the

trial, Dhaka's Metropolitan Sessions Judge Wednesday set December 3 for extortion-charge hearing against detained ex-premier and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, her London-residing sister Rehana and detained cousin Selim.

Judge Azizul Huq passed the order after hearing both the defence and prosecution lawyers without the presence of the high-profile accused in the dock.

The court also ordered the prosecution to produce the accused persons on December 3 in a makeshift court set up on the parliament premises. Moving the petition, the counsel for Hasina sought either a long adjournment or stay on the trial until disposal of the rule pending with the High Court in connection with the case, for "proper dispensation of justice".

The High Court, on a writ petition, has granted bail to Hasina and issued rule upon the government to explain why placing the extortion case under the Emergency Power Rules 'should not be declared illegal', the counsel contended in support of the plea for postponement.

Prosecution lawyers crossed swords with the defence, arguing that since the Supreme Court removed all roadblocks to initiating the trial, the trial court has "no alternative but to continue trial without delay".

Meanwhile another court of Dhaka sentenced former MP elected from Fatikchhari of Chittagong Rafiqul Anwar alias Sona Rafique to 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) in an arms and for illegally possessing a pistol Matiur Rahman, Judge of Special Tribunal of Dhaka handed down the verdict in presence of the convict.

Meanwhile CMM Court of Dhaka yesterday fixed December 2 for remand hearing against BNP's senior joint secretary General detained Tarique Rahman and his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko in two separate cases. In the case filed against Tarique with Kafrul Thana, IO sought a 7-day remand where in the case filed against Koko with Gulshan thana 10 similary sought a 7-day remand.

Again, as the further inquing report of the case filed against I 46 persons including AL Chief Sheikh Hasina in connection with the killing of Jamaate-Islami Bangladesh and Shibir activists on 28 October, last year, court refixed January 13, 2008 for submission of the report.