Dhaka: Detained former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina today appeared before a court here for trial in a case of alleged bribery involving Taka three crore. Hasina's cousin and detained former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim also appeared as a co-accused in the case while her expatriate younger sister Sheikh Rehana is being tried in absentia.

"Sheikh Rehana is being shown as absconding since she has not surrendered to face the trial despite a court warrant," a prosecution lawyer said. Hasina was produced before the court at its makeshift premises at the Parliament complex, where she has been kept turning a building into a temporary sub-jail due to "safety reasons". Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Azizul Hoque set the date for indicting Hasina, Rehana and Selim as police filed the chargesheet against them after a probe on a case filed by Bangladeshi businessmen Azam Jahangir Chowdhury on June 13.

Chowdhury alleged that Hasina and the two others forced him to pay Taka 2.99 crore in bribes in return for allowing him to build a power plant in suburban Narayanganj while her Awami League was in power in 1996-2001. Police formally charged Hasina with extortion on July 24 after her arrest on July 16.

Hasina and other Awami League leaders denied the charges which they said were aimed at tarnishing the image of the former prime minister. More than 100 lawyers including acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman joined the team formed to defend the former premier as the trial started five months after her arrest.

Source : PTI