The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Monday summarily rejected a writ petition of Sheikh Rehana challenging the legality of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's order showing her absconder in an extortion case in which she is already being tried in absentia along with her detained elder sister.

Passing the order, a division bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abdul Awal observed that there is "no provision, in the eye of law, for allowing a fugitive to get any relief".

Since the fugitive petitioner is aware of the case by filing okalatnama through her lawyer, the question of exhausting legal process showing an accused as fugitive is not required.

Rehana, who resides in London, is facing trial along with her elder sister detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and cousin ex-minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in a Tk 3-crore extortion case filed by a businessman, Azam J Chowdhury.

The Dhaka metropolitan sessions court relocated to the parliament bhaban complex, indicting all the three accused a day before, has fixed Thursday for the commencement of trial through deposition by the prosecution witnesses.

Barrister Azmalul Hossain appeared for Rehana, while additional attorney general Mansur Habib, assisted by ACC special prosecutor Golam Kibria, stood for the state.