The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The hearing of bail petition of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case was held at the High Court amidst government opposition yesterday. The extortion case was filed by Noor Ali, a pro-Awami League businessman.

A vacation bench of the High Court comprising Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin set September 29 (Monday) for the verdict on her petition for bail as the government opposed her prayer during the hearings.

Sheikh Hasina's principal counsel, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, sought bail for his client on health grounds, as she suffers from ear and eye ailments and is now abroad on parole for treatment.

Additional Attorney-General Mansur Habib crossed swords with the defence counsel, expressing skepticism about Hasina's illness.

Opposing the bail the Additional Attorney General Mansur Habib told the court that Sheikh Hasina, while staying abroad on medical grounds, is making political statements and attending meetings.

Besides, Hasina also attended a wedding reception at Helsinki in Finland recently, he said.

AAG Mansur Habib argued that while Sheikh Hasina is on parole she is not entitled to get bail. The AAG also cited both print and electronic media reports to back up the government side's objection.

"The government needs another medical certificate of her illness," the AAG said on his note of skepticism.

Interrupting the AAG, the court asked him whether he was contradicting government position as the government had earlier released Hasina by an executive order from incarceration on health grounds and allowed her to go for treatment overseas.

But the government law officer disagreed with the court's intervening remark. He said, he had adequate briefing from the government.

While emerging from the court after hearing, Sheikh Hasina's counsel, Barrister Rafique, looked downcast as his hope apparently got shaken about his move in arranging the two top political leaders' meet for a deal on democratic transition from the muddled-up interim period that had begun with the 1/11 changeover.

He told reporters that the stance of the interim caretaker government is paradoxical.

"How the proposed Khaleda-Hasina meeting takes place keeping Khaleda free and Hasina behind bars?" He posed the question.

"We submitted to the court that Sheikh Hasina is on parole (but) the polls are at hand. She should return home as a free person, hence the bail petition," he said.

He mentioned some current HC examples granting bail on health grounds to high-profile corruption suspects, including BNP chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia, her two sons and others.

Hasina was shown arrested on July 30 last year in the Tk 5-crore extortion case over a decade-old power-plant deal by Managing Director of Unique Group of companies Noor Ali.

Sheikh Hasina is currently undergoing treatment in the United States.