Evidence hearing in Hasina trial deferred to Jan 21

Dhaka, Jan 17 (bdprem.com)— Hearing of evidence in the extortion case against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Selim has been deferred to Jan 21. Judge Azizul Haque set the new date after considering an appeal for extra time filed by the defense lawyers. The lawyers stated in their appeal that they were not able to discuss the case details with the accused and further sought the court's permission to see the accused. Your Ad Here The judge responded by asking them to submit a list of persons who wanted to meet the accused in connection with the case so that he could instruct the concerned authorities to facilitate such meetings. The lawyers on behalf of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Selim submitted two separate lists of 10 persons each to the court and said five from each list would like to meet the two accused on over two days. The judge ordered the concerned authorities to allow the meetings as requested on Jan 19 and 20. Sheikh Hasina was produced in court at 9:28 am and Sheikh Selim at 9:10 am. The court started the case proceedings at around 9:30 am. Sheikh Hasina's counsels at this point submitted to the court that the accused had not been allowed to see their lawyers and relatives though they had repeatedly sought permission to for visits. The jail authorities, on the other hand, stated that they had issued such permission on a total of 22 occasions, but the visits did not take place due to mismatched timings. The defense lawyers termed these anomalies as "simply juggling with figures". Sheikh Hasina addressed the court, at this point, saying: "I haven't been allowed to see my relatives in the last three months." "During the one or two meetings with my lawyers, intelligence personnel recorded our conversation, registering their presence all through despite my repeated requests to leave us alone," said the former prime minister. "I'd like to draw the attention of the court to the fact that as per the Jail Code, any detained person holds the right to see his or her relatives and lawyers." Hasina appealed to the court that it should order the concerned authorities, following the Jail Code, to allow meetings in a manner which might allow observers to be present within sight of the meeting, "but not right in front allowing no privacy at all". Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Azizul Haque had earlier set Thursday as the date to start deposing witnesses, after charges were framed on Jan 13. Although the charge sheet named 24 people as witnesses for the trial, later another person was added to the list. Now 25 wirnesses have been enlisted to give evidence for the case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury against the former prime minister, her sister and cousin. Advocate Samim Ahsan Habib, acting for the government, had earlier said the plaintiff in the case, Azam J Chowdhury, would give his testimony on Thursday. The businessman filed the case against Hasina on June 13, 2007, accusing her of taking Tk 3 crore as extortion money in return for a tender to build a power station. Sheikh Hasina was arrested and detained on July 16, 2007, and subsequently shown arrested in this case. Sheikh Salim was arrested prior to Hasina. A charge sheet produced before the court on July 24, 2007, named Sheikh Rehana as co-accused in this case. She was shown as fugitive in the case as she presently resides in the United Kingdom.