ID :
27651
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 10:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27651
The shortlink copeid
Bangla Supreme Court denies bail to Hasina in graft case
Anisur Rahman
Dhaka, Oct 30 (PTI) Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was Thursday denied bail by the Supreme Court in a corruption case, raising a question mark over whether she will be able to campaign for the upcoming general elections.
The full bench of the Appellate Division of the apex
court, chaired by Chief Justice M.M. Ruhul Amin, passed the
order upholding an earlier High Court ruling.
The ex-premier's counsels described the order as
"unexpected" as she was on parole on a government "executive
order" to be treated abroad for critical hearing impairment.
Leaders of Hasina's Awami League party had earlier said
she was expected to return home next week after three months
of treatment in the United States.
The High Court earlier rejected her bail petition saying
Hasina's personal appearance would be required for the bail on
her return home as her lawyers filed the petition attaching
"old medical reports" while submitting the petition.
The ex-premier was arrested on July 16 last year on a
graft charge brought against her by a Bangladeshi businessman
as part of a massive anti-graft campaign by the current
interim government, installed with crucial military support
after the January 11, 2007 proclamation of emergency.
Hasina's archrival Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (B.N.P.) too was arrested later as part of the
anti-corruption clampdown and was released on bail last month
on a court order.
Both were facing a number of corruption cases under the
tough emergency power rules (E.P.R.) and if convicted they
were likely to be barred from taking part in the upcoming
general elections on December 18 this year.
But the government leaders and the election commission
have said the two leaders were yet to be disqualified for the
polls since they were not yet convicted in any of the cases.
Thursday's court order came as the government was
continuing a crucial election dialogue with the major parties
ahead of the planned polls. PTI
Dhaka, Oct 30 (PTI) Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was Thursday denied bail by the Supreme Court in a corruption case, raising a question mark over whether she will be able to campaign for the upcoming general elections.
The full bench of the Appellate Division of the apex
court, chaired by Chief Justice M.M. Ruhul Amin, passed the
order upholding an earlier High Court ruling.
The ex-premier's counsels described the order as
"unexpected" as she was on parole on a government "executive
order" to be treated abroad for critical hearing impairment.
Leaders of Hasina's Awami League party had earlier said
she was expected to return home next week after three months
of treatment in the United States.
The High Court earlier rejected her bail petition saying
Hasina's personal appearance would be required for the bail on
her return home as her lawyers filed the petition attaching
"old medical reports" while submitting the petition.
The ex-premier was arrested on July 16 last year on a
graft charge brought against her by a Bangladeshi businessman
as part of a massive anti-graft campaign by the current
interim government, installed with crucial military support
after the January 11, 2007 proclamation of emergency.
Hasina's archrival Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (B.N.P.) too was arrested later as part of the
anti-corruption clampdown and was released on bail last month
on a court order.
Both were facing a number of corruption cases under the
tough emergency power rules (E.P.R.) and if convicted they
were likely to be barred from taking part in the upcoming
general elections on December 18 this year.
But the government leaders and the election commission
have said the two leaders were yet to be disqualified for the
polls since they were not yet convicted in any of the cases.
Thursday's court order came as the government was
continuing a crucial election dialogue with the major parties
ahead of the planned polls. PTI
