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Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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Extortion cases against Hasina

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate has asked the police and the immigration authorities to stop former Prime Minister and chief of the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, from leaving the country.

The court order came after the police sought approval from the magistrate for prosecuting Ms. Hasina for allegedly extorting Taka 8 crore from two businessmen.

On Wednesday, the Government filed two extortion cases against her, charging that she had extorted Taka 8 crore from the businessmen Noor Ali and Azam J Chowdhury.

Although there was no independent confirmation, observers believe that the development might force Ms. Hasina to cancel the trip to the U.S. on Friday to visit her daughter Putul. Ms. Hasina is reportedly under "tremendous pressure" to quit the party position under a widely publicised plan of the interim Government, which is set to bring political reforms.

Senior party leader and former minister Sajeda Chowdhury told journalists on Thursday that the authorities have restricted their leader's movements. However, there was no official announcement in this regard.

Ms. Hasina on Thursday cancelled her scheduled visit to Chittagong. Media reports, quoting party leaders, said that the visit, to visit Monday's landslip victims in the port city, has been cancelled due to the restrictions.

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