August 08, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 23, 1428

DHAKA, Aug 7: The High Court of Bangladesh on Tuesday granted Awami League president Sheikh Hasina bail in the second extortion case filed bybusinessman and also stayed the operation of the Anti-Corruption Commission's notice asking for her wealth statements.

Hasina, a former prime minister, now imprisoned in a sub-jail in the parliament building premises, however, is unlikely to be released soon, as the Appellate Division on Aug 2 stayed a High Court order that had granted her bail in another extortion case filed by another businessman.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on Tuesday also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain within four weeks why its notice, issued on July 17, asking Hasina to submit her wealth report, should not be declared illegal.The court in another rule asked the government to explain within four weeks why its approval to try the second extortion case under Emergency Powers Rules would not be declared illegal.

The court also directed the government not to proceed further with the case applying the emergency rules till disposal of the [HC] rule or until it issued any further order.

The court orders came on two separate writ petitions, filed by Hasina, Challenging the government's move for trial of the TK 5 crore ‘extortion’ case against her under the Emergency Powers Rules and the legality of the Anti-Corruption Commission's notice asking for her wealth statements.

The Anti-Corruption Commission's secretary, Mokhlesur Rahman, told reporters that it would file a petition before the Appellate Division on Wednesday, challenging the High Court orders regarding its notice. The government is also likely to file a petition before the Appellate Division tomorrow against the High Court orders on Tk 5 crore extortion case.