Govt to apply today for permission to appeal against verdict

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The government is likely to file application today seeking permission to appeal against the High Court judgment that declared illegal bringing the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case against detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina under the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR) and also scrapped the case.

On February 12, the full bench of the Appellate Division held up a government petition that sought stay on operation of the High Court judgment and asked it to file regular leave to appeal by February 19.

A government attorney, requesting not to be named, told the news agency yesterday that they had already collected the certified copy of the High Court judgment.

Before the delivery of the High Court verdict, the trial court had recorded depositions made by the complainant of the case, businessman Azam J Chowdhury. The formal trial began on January 30.

However, the Awami League president will not be released from jail since she has been shown arrested in a similar extortion case relating to Khulna barge-mounted power-plant deal.

On June 13 last year, Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of East Coast Trading Pvt Ltd., a private power company, filed the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case against Hasina. She was arrested on July 16 in connection with the case.

Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin detained former minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim are also made accused in the case.

Meanwhile, William Sloan, president of US Jurist Association, Canada Chapter, arrived in Dhaka early yesterday on a week-long visit to discuss legal matters relating to the cases filed against detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Human rights lawyer Sloan will also observe the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina’s assistant Hassan Mahmud told the news agency that Sloan would meet lawyers of the detained leader. He will leave for Canada on Feb 23.

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