Bangladesh HC grants bail to Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka, July 30: The Bangladesh High Court today granted bail to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina facing an extortion case and ordered a stay on all proceedings of the case.

The court gave the directive responding to a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina herself yesterday, challenging the validity of tagging the case to the emergency powers rules that deny bail to any accused.

Sheikh Hasina was arrested on July 16 and detained in a special jail in the national parliament building complex in connection with the extortion case involving about three crore Taka. East Coast Ltd, a private company, local agent of Russian state owned Technopromp Export, filed the case alleging that the former Prime Minister and her cousin extorted money from the company's local Managing Direct Azam J Chowdhury to allow the operation of 210 mw power plant at Siddhirganj in 1998.

It cannot be stated whether she would be released or not since several other cases of extortion were filed against her under the military-backed government that assumed power on January 12 this year.

Sheikh Hasina, president of Awami League, ruled Bangladesh for five years from 1996.

UNI