UNB, Dhaka
The High Court yesterday directed the law not to arrest or harass newly elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina until disposal of its rules on the quashing petitions against the Niko and Barge-mounted power plant graft cases.
These two are among as many as 16 criminal cases, filed during the just-out interim regime and the previous BNP-led coalition government, which were hanging overhead when she went to the polls and led her party and the Awami League-led Grand Alliance to a landslide victory.
One of the cases was recently discharged while another awaits disposal by the trial court amid a turnaround in the political arena with the start of election process in the country.
A division bench comprising Justice Sheik Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin passed the orders, the day Sheikh Hasina started off function as Prime Minister for a second term in seven years.
Besides, the HC, following a time petition moved by the government attorney, adjourned for six weeks the hearings on the pending quashing petitions.
Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, assisted by Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash MP, appeared for PM Hasina while assistant attorney-general M Diliruzzaman stood for the government.
On July 7 last year, the High Court, upon separate writ petitions filed by Sheikh Hasina, stayed the proceedings of both the cases. It had also issued separate rules asking the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the two cases “should not be quashed”.
On September 2, 2007, the ACC filed the Barge-mounted power-plant case with Tejgaon police station against Hasina and several others, amid a crackdown on former ruling politicians by the immediate-past caretaker government.
The ACC filed the Niko scam case on December 9, 2007 with the same police station.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
