A special court in Bangladesh on Sunday indicted detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her relatives in connection with an extortion case.

Judge Aziz-ul-Haq framed charges against Awami League chief Hasina, her expatriate younger sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin and former health minister Sheikh Selim after several days of hearing and fixed January 17 for the next hearing to record the witnesses’ statement.

The Awami League chief is charged with extorting about Taka 3 crore from businessman Azam J Chowdhury during her tenure in 1996-2001 after threatening him with cancellation of his power project.