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Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday asked police to submit probe report by June 11 in the case against Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina and her personal staff Manu Majumder for extortion of Tk 3 crore.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mizanur Rahman passed the order when the general recording officer (GRO) placed the case before the court saying that Tejgaon police is yet to submit the probe report.
Another Dhaka court acquitted Bangladesh Krishak League chief Mirza Abdul Jalil and eight others yesterday in a case filed under the Speedy Trial (Law and Order Disruption) Act.
CASE AGAINST HASINA
On April 9, former prime minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina was sued in connection with extortion of Tk 3 crore.
Tajul Islam Farook, chairman of Westmont Power Company, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station under non-bailable sections of the penal code.
On April 9, Tajul complained of extortion and abuse of power by Hasina in 1998 when she was prime minister.
The following day, the court asked police to submit probe report by May 10.
CASE AGAINST MIRZA JALIL
Metropolitan Magistrate Abdur Rouf Khan of the Speedy Trial Court-2 acquitted Mirza Jalil and eight others.
The court passed the order as the charges against them were not proved.
The eight others are Jalil’s personal secretary Naimul Haq, assistant personal secretary Abdul Barek, Ershad Hossain, Humayun Kabir, Kabir Ahmed, Sekendar Ali, Jamal Uddin, and Abul Hashem alias Hasu.
The case was filed accusing them of damaging a police van and disrupting law and order at Shyamoli Ring Road in the capital during hartal hours on December 21 last year.
Sub-inspector Golam Rasul, who is investigation officer (IO) of the case, had submitted charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka, showing 37 people as prosecution witnesses.
Police also implicated around 1,000 to 1,200 others under the same act but the IO did not mention their names in the charge sheet.
The IO stated that the charges brought against them were initially proved, and they should be brought under trial.
Jalil and others were arrested from the spot during the incident. Later, the court granted them bail.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:39 am
One can guess the outcome of this trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under Emergency power Act where government plays the role of judge and jury.
Military backed government wants to remove their obstacle to clinch on power for years to come. Bangladesh have witnessed similar episode ran by DGFI (military intelligence unit) couple of times before during Gen. Zia and then by Gen. Ershad. During this two military strongman marshal law prevailed for close to 16 years combined.
Bangladesh probably going to see another round of camouflaged military backed government with civilian facade.
But truth will prevail ultimately and military rulers will lose confidence and people’s democratic aspiration will triumph over military might.
With hope for democracy forever
Shamim Chowdhury
Maryland, USA