The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The court on Sunday disposed of a petition granting exemption for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her personal appearance during trial in an extortion case lodged by businessman Azam J Chowdhury.

The petition was submitted on June 2 by her counsels.

The court also rejected a prayer seeking bail for former Minister and Sheikh Hasina's cousin brother Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, a co-accused in the case, now detained in jail.

Judge M Ashraf Hossain set July 27 as the next date to testify the witnesses in the case.

Earlier, the trial was stayed while the witnesses were testifying as the High Court halted the proceedings till disposal of a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina.

The High Court ordered quashment of the case granting the prayer but the Appellate Division turned down the High Court verdict.

Later, in the light of Appellate Division's order, the metropolitan sessions judge on June 15 referred the case to the special court to restart the trial.

Azam J Chowdhury lodged the case on July 16 last year alleging that he had paid about Taka three crore to Sheikh Hasina through her cousin Sheikh Selim as they threatened to cancel the work order for construction of a power plant when Awami League was in power during 1996-2001.

On that day, Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her residence while Sheikh Selim, a minister in her cabinet, was taken to custody earlier.

In the chargesheet submitted by police, Sheikh Rehana, Hasina's younger sister, was also made an accused following a confessional statement of Sheikh Selim.

The case was later brought under the coverage of Emergency Power Rules (EPR).