DHAKA, Feb 2: Sheikh Hasina Wajed, president of Awami League and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, was awarded bail on Sunday morning on corruption charges over the purchase of Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets.

Bail was set at Taka 100,000 taka (1,724 dollars) by a Dhaka special court.

Hasina, who is accused of unnecessarily costing the national exchequer Taka 700 crore (123 million USD) for the purchase of eight MiG planes.

Hasina while addressing several hundred slogan-chanting AL supporters outside the court, claimed after the bail was granted, that the corruption charge brought against him was politically motivated. “I saved money by state-to-state purchase of the aircraft and now I am facing this false charge,” she said. “This is nothing but a step to harass me. However, the Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) formally submitted the charge sheet on Thursday, accusing the Sheikh Hasina and six high-level government servant of colluding to purchase eight MiG-29 fighter-bombers from Russia in 1999, allegedly despite defence objections.

Sheikh Hasina was accused along with former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain and former army chief Mustafizur Rahman. Also accused was Mohammad Noor Ali, a former Awami League leader who headed the Unique Group business that allegedly brokered the deal. Lengthy jail terms could be in store for the accused if they are found guilty.