The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Police yesterday submitted final report in an extortion case filed by businessman Tajul Islam Farooq against Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, disposing of the charge as "false" and "baseless".

The police of Tejgaon thana submitted the final report to the CMM court of Magistrate Tania Kamal in the evening after 19 months' investigation. "After investigation no basis or evidence was found in the case," says the report.

The Tk 3-crore extortion case was filed with the police station on April 9, 2008 against Hasina and his personal assistant Manu Majumdar when a crackdown on the political arena was on following the January 11, 2007 changeover.

In the case it was alleged that Manu handed over

the money in a brief case to Hasina at Ganobhaban when she was prime minister.

This was the first of the extortion and graft cases filed against her during the drive.

However, Tajul Islam at a press conference on December 24 confessed that he had to file the case 'under pressure' in the changed situation.