Hasina and her cousin, former minister Sheikh Selim, have been charged with allegedly taking 30 million taka (S$622,552) from a businessman when Hasina was in power between 1996 and 2001. Hasina and Selim deny the charges.

'I have no confidence in the court and I doubt that I will get a fair judgment,' a lawyer quoted Hasina saying during Tuesday's hearing.

'She also felt the judge (of the special court) was biased and unable to deliver a fair verdict,' he said before issuing a request to shift the case to a higher court.

A court official said the trial would resume on Feb 11.

The judge would rule if the request was lawful.

The court is supposed to deliver a verdict within 60 days of the start of the trial. A conviction would bar Hasina from running in elections expected later this year.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January last year, when the interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed took power. He banned political activity and launched a drive against corruption.

More than 170 people have been detained, including former prime ministers Hasina and her rival Begum Khaleda Zia. -- REUTERS