Dhaka, Dec 22 (IANS) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has for the first time moved to withdraw an extortion case against Bangladesh opposition chief Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman on grounds that it is ‘politically motivated’ and meant for ‘harassment’.
The prosecution will submit a petition with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in the first week of January next year, seeking its withdrawal, The Daily Star said Tuesday.

This marks a significant effort on the part of Hasina to offer an olive branch to her arch political rival whom she defeated in a parliamentary election a year ago, political analysts said.

During this year, however, Zia has been critical of the government on most counts and has boycotted attending parliament.

Tarique, said to be convalescing in a London hospital, is likely to return home and resume his political career after a special post, senior vice chairman, was created for him in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party earlier this month.

The case was filed May 4, 2007 at Gulshan Police Station, accusing businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun of extorting Tk 22 million ($312,000 approx.) from an entrepreneur.

Bangladesh was then ruled by a caretaker government that had filed numerous cases against both Hasina and Zia and had jailed over 200,000 people as part of a drive against corruption.

The government’s action follows a decision it took Oct 13. The home ministry sent a letter to the Dhaka District Magistrate asking him to send it to the Metropolitan Magistrate who had recommended withdrawing one of the 11 cases against Tarique, considering it ‘politically motivated’ and meant for ‘harassment’.

Twenty cases were filed against Khaleda Zia and her family members during the tenure of the last caretaker government (2007-08).

On April 30, they appealed to the government for withdrawing all the cases against them.