Dhaka - Police on Monday cleared Bangladesh's prime minister-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina Wazed of an extortion charge brought by a businessman eight months ago, officials said.

Police said investigators found no evidence that Hasina, the head of the Awami League, extorted 440,000 dollars from businessman Tazul Islam Faruk, who lodged the case with police in April.

"We submitted a report detailing the investigation to the court for its consideration," said a police inspector of Tejgaon police station.

A week before the December 29 general elections, plaintiff Faruk appealed to the police station where he lodged the case requesting withdrawal of the charges against the former premier.

"The case was filed under certain circumstances as a result of misunderstanding, and now I want to lift the case," appealed Tajul, the chairman of electricity company Westmont Power Ltd.

Hasina was accused in five graft cases after the military-backed government of Fakhruddin Ahmed took over on January 11, 2007, against the backdrop of serious political violence.

She was also detained in prison for almost a year until June 11, 2008.

Two more extortion charges brought also by businessmen against Hasina were dropped by the plaintiffs prior to the elections, in which her Awami League party own a landslide victory. Proceedings of the other cases were stayed by the higher courts.

Hasina is scheduled to take over as Bangladesh's next prime minister Tuesday evening. (dpa)