Hearing of extortion case against Hasina adjourned till August 3

DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 28(BSS) - The court today adjourned the trial proceedings in the extortion case against former prime ministerSheikh Hasina and two others.

Judge M Ashraf Hossain set the new date as the defence counsels said a petition for Hasina against an order of the trialcourt is now pending before the High Court division.

Earlier, the trial was stayed while the witnesses were testifying as the High Court halted the proceedings till disposalof 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 Courtverdict.

Later, in light of the Appellate Division's order, the metropolitan sessions judge on June 15 referred the case to thespecial 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 Leaguewas 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 tocustody earlier.

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

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