March 30, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1428

DHAKA: The extortion trial of Tareque Rahman, a son of former Bangladeshi prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, opened on Thursday amid a nationwide crackdown on graft.

Tareque, the eldest son of the country's last prime minister, was produced before quick-trial court judge Abdur Rouf Khan, who asked prosecutors for evidence to substantiate their charges.

“After hearing lawyers from both sides, the judge set the next date for hearing on April 5, with a target to complete the trial by late May,” a court registrar said. The quick-trial courts are expected to complete trials within 60 days.—Reuters