January
13, 2008 Sheikh Hasina
Pleads Not Guilty
to Graft Charges
Dhaka
Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday pleaded not
guilty to charges of corruption in an anti-graft court, claiming the
interim government was trying to smear her and her family.
Speaking from the dock, Hasina, who was prime minister between 1996
and 2001, said the Anti-Corruption Commission had fabricated a case
of extortion against her to disqualify her from future elections.
Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and her cousin and former
health minister Sheikh Selim were also indicted in the case filed by
local businessman Azam J. Chowdhury.
The court hearing is scheduled to start next week, judicial
officials said.
Hasina was arrested in July after the government accused her of
taking bribes worth half a million dollars in relation to a
government contract for power plants. The 60-year-old leader Hasina
interned in a bungalow while her sister left the country to evade
detention.
Meanwhile, the military-backed interim government declared at the
weekend that a general election would be held before the end of the
current year to restore democratic rule in the Muslim country.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed made the announcement of the national
polls during a televised address to the nation. Ahmed also announced
that restrictions on political activities would be withdrawn.
However, Ahmed - the de facto prime minister of the country - ruled
out the possibility of advancing the polls to June or July as
demanded by the major political parties.
The former central bank governor was appointed head of an advisory
council, which is running the country. Bangladesh is still reeling
from the aftermath of a number of natural disasters as well as
political turmoil.
President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency a year ago,
curbing fundamental rights in an effort to quell the escalating
tension.
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