Dhaka, Sept. 4 -- A Dhaka court on Thursday rejected four lawyers' request to defend deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a case over alleged irregularities in obtaining Rajuk plots in Purbachal. The application, submitted to Judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 by Morshed Hossain Shahin, Imran Hossain, Sheikh Farid, and Topu, was denied because Hasina is currently absconding, according to ACC Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.

The lawyers had asked to be appointed as Hasina's personal counsel in court to ensure a fair trial and uphold the rule of law, stating they would bear the expenses themselves. Shahin said, "We submitted applications this morning at our own expense to be appointed as legal counsel [for Hasina]. A h...