SC to hear govt appeal against Hasina verdict

Dhaka, Mar 17 (UNI) Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's appeal against High Court verdict will be heard today.

Additional Attorney General Salahuddin Ahmed said the High Court handed down the cancellation of case as Hasina in her writ petition had only contended that the inclusion of the case for trial under the emergency powers rules was "illegal".

He said granting bail under the law when the emergency powers. Rules were in force was completely "against the rule" and outside the jurisdiction of the High Court.

"The inclusion of the case under the emergency power rules was proper and in line with the Constitution,'' Ahmed contended as quoting in The Independent.

The Appellate Division on February 26 had stayed the high court's dismissal of the case after accepting the government's leave to appeal petition against the verdict. Security inside the court and around was tightened and security personnel were frisking everybody at the entrances to the apex court.

Hasina was arrested on July 16, 2007 in the case later the same day after inclusion of the case proceedings under the emergency powers. Charges were framed against the accused, including Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana on January 13 UNI XC NC RL DS1132