July 31, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 15, 1428

DHAKA, July 30: The High Court of Bangladesh on Monday granted bail to detained former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in the extortion case. Hasina, now imprisoned in a sub-jail in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban's premises, however, is unlikely to be released soon, as the police on Sunday showed her arrested in another extortion case filed by another businessman.

The High Court bench, comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, passed the interim order in the present case.

The court also issued a rule on the government to explain within two weeks as to why its action in bringing the normal extortion case within the ambit of the Emergency Powers Rules would not be declared illegal.

The court also directed the government not to proceed further with the case under the emergency rules till disposal of the rule or until any further order is issued by it.

The court granted the bail and issued the rule on hearing a writ petition.