Hasina’s trial to continue

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The Supreme Court yesterday overruled a High Court order that had stalled the trial of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice M Fazlul Karim, passed the order, granting the government’s appeal against the High Court order.

The court also said the ongoing hearing of the writ petition filed by the Awami League president would continue as usual at the High Court.

Following a defence petition, the High Court on January 17 stayed the trial proceedings of the Tk 3 crore case until disposal of an HC ruling in which the court asked the government to explain why placing the extortion case under the Emergency Power Rules should not be declared to have been ‘without lawful authority’.

The High Court gave the order within two hours after the trial court, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, adjourned the commencement of trial for three days.

This is the fourth time that the apex court has overruled High Court’s stay on the operation of the trial proceedings on different grounds since the initiation of the trial process.

Following yesterday’s order, the trial court can now resume proceedings of the case under the Emergency Power Rules.

Attorney General Fida M Kamal stood for the government while Barrister Rafique-ul Huq spoke for Hasina. A disappointed Rafique-ul Huq termed the court order “unprecedented”.

Meanwhile, Advocate Golam Kibria, one of the special counsels for the Anti-Corruption Commission, told UNB yesterday afternoon that the apex court’s order has been communicated to Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court.

“The date for resuming the trial will be fixed after receiving the certified copy of the Supreme Court order,” he said.

Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of East Coast Trading Pvt Ltd, filed the case.

Hasina’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana, who lives in London, and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim are also accused in the case.

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