The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Testifying in the Court yesterday, plaintiff Azam J Chowdhury refused to identify detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as an accused and said he filed the Tk 3 crore extortion case only against former Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.

He also told the Court that he did not know Sheikh Rehana, the younger sister of Sheikh Hasina..

"I know Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim only as the accused in the case. I do not know anyone else," said Azam J Chowdhury in reply to a question posed by a lawyer during trial in the Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque yesterday morning, when the case proceedings resumed after suspension thrice earlier.

Earlier on June 13, 2007, plaintiff Azam J Chowdhury, Managing Director of a power company-East Coast Pvt Ltd-filed the case with Gulshan police station in the capital, alleging that he had to pay Tk 3 crore (US 435,000 dollars) extortion money to Sheikh Hasina's cousin Sheikh Selim in 2000 when she was the Prime Minister. Later, Sheikh Hasina was made the number one accused of the case, while Sheikh Selim and Sheikh Rehana, who lives in London, co-accused.

In his written case statement or FIR, Azam J Chowdhury wrote Sheikh Hasina's name at nine places, while Sheikh Selim's in 11 places.

Testifying in the Court for the first day yesterday, Azam J Chowdhury said he was threatened by Sheikh Selim that if he failed to pay the money, "the Prime Minister would cancel his power project," prosecution lawyer Borhanuddin told journalists after the trial.

"He (Azam) said that Sheikh Selim had told him that part of the money would be given to the prime minister. He said after he handed over the money to Selim, he was never disturbed again," the prosecutor added.

Sheikh Hasina, 60, has denied the charges, accusing the Government of trying to destroy her political career.

Her lawyer, Kamrul Islam, said the power company owner "could only identify Sheikh Selim as the accused, not the former Prime Minister."

Wearing a off-white sari, Sheikh Hasina was seem smiling during the two hours on the dock, a witness said. The room was packed with dozens of defence lawyers, journalists and security official, lawyers said.

The trial is to resume again on February 4 when the plaintiff is expected to be cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

Immediately after resumption of the trial, Sheikh Hasina's defence team complained to the Court that her lawyers were not able to see the detained former Prime Minister in special jail despite a court order.

The court ordered prison authorities to submit a report explaining why they had not complied with the court order.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque, who adjourned the hearing till February 4, when the defence lawyers would cross examine Azam J Chowdhury on his testimonies.

Sheikh Hasina and cousin Sheikh Selim were produced before the judge at 10am.

Her Canadian lawyer Payam Akhavan was also present in the courtroom and had discussion with Sheikh Hasina. The Court is set up on sprawling Parliament building complex.

On January 24, the Supreme Court ruled out the High Court stay order on the proceedings of the case.

The High Court had earlier stayed the proceedings of the case until the legitimacy of trying the case under emergency powers rules (EPR) was settled.

Sheikh Hasina's lawyers had argued that it was in no way appropriate to try the case under EPR, pointing out that the alleged incidence of extortion was dated before a state of emergency was imposed in the country.

On January 21, the Government appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court stay order, and the Appellate Division ruled out the stay order.

Sheikh Hasina, President of the Awami League, faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted. The trial is expected to be concluded within the next two months, as required under the emergency power rules.

Dozens of supporters and leaders of Sheikh Hasina's party muzzled their mouth with black badges to protest against the trial, with hundreds of police in riot gear guarding the parliament complex, witnesses said.