The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Trial of detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a Tk 3 crore barge- mounted power plants scam case yesterday began in the Special Court on the premises of Parliament building complex in the city.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Firoj Alam adjourned the charge framing hearing of the case till Thursday (January 7) at the request of the defence lawyers, who prayed for time to examine the documents of the charge.

Acting Awami League (AL) President Zillur Rahman, who was present in the Court during the hearing as one of her counsel said this after the adjournment.

The judge allowed the lawyers to consult with Sheikh Hasina, the President of the AL, for an hour.

Zillur Rahman, in a statement, yesterday expressed concern at the health condition of Sheikh Hasina.

Talking to journalists after emerging from a special Court trying Sheikh Hasina in the graft cases, Zillur said she is suffering from high blood pressure but doctors did not visit her.

"Medicines are being prescribed on telephone but no doctor saw her," he said, adding, "This is inhuman."

Earlier, on Saturday, Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that the Government suddenly decided to begin trial of the second graft case against her sensing she would not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case.

Her counsel Advocate Quamrul Islam said this after meeting her at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building. Her counsel, Senior Advocate Golam Arif Tipu was also present during the meeting. He, however, did not talk to the media.

"The Government is sure that I could not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case as he did not identify me as an accused in the Court. As such, the Government has hurriedly decided to start the trial of the second case," Sheikh Hasina was quoted to have told her lawyers in the prison.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court began the hearing in the graft case for allegedly taking Tk 3 crore extortion money from two business houses- Summit Group and United Group for awarding contract for three barge-mounted power plants.

"Expressing deep concern about the fairness of the trial of the new case, Sheikh Hasina apprehended that she might not get justice," said Advocate Quamrul Islam, who is also the Acting General Secretary.

Sheikh Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year in an extortion case involving Tk 3 crore.