DHAKA, 15 January 2008 — The High Court yesterday rejected a writ petition of Rehana, sister of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Wajed, challenging an order of the chief metropolitan magistrate declaring her an absconder in an extortion case. Rehana is being tried in absentia with her detained elder sister. Rejecting her petition, a division bench comprising Justices A.B.M. Khairul Haque and Abdul Awal observed that there is “no provision in the law for allowing a fugitive to get any relief.”
Rehana, who lives in London, is being tried with Hasina and cousin and former Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in a 30-million taka extortion case filed by businessman Azam J. Chowdhury.
Hasina, who has denied any wrongdoing, has been under detention since July.
“The court has accepted the charge against Hasina for accepting kickbacks from a firm while permitting it to set up a power plant,” a senior official of the Anti-Corruption Commission said. The court will now formally frame the charge against her, the official said.
The court also issued arrest warrants against eight other co-accused, including leaders of Hasina’s party and former government officials, for the power plant deal.
The plant was set up in the southwestern city of Khulna during Hasina’s tenure as prime minister from 1996 to 2001.
Hasina faces another extortion charge, due in court soon, involving the alleged extortion of 50 million taka from another businessman during her term in office.
