The prayer was made by the top ULFA leader when he and his two other arrested associates were produced in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate, Dhaka court, yesterday.

The court observed that the prayer should be made through proper channel and asked the petitioner to send the prayer to the home ministry through the jail authorities.

The court yesterday sat to frame charges against the ULFA leader and two of his associates for specific cases of illegal entry into Bangladesh and possession of Bangladeshi passports. But the defence lawyer appointed by the state for Chetia prayed for granting time before the framing of charges.

The additonal chief metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Habibur Rahman then fixed July 9 for framing of charges against Chetia and his companions in the two cases filed with Mohammadpur policestation in Dhaka after their arrest on December 21.

Earlier, Chetia and his two associates were brought to the court amid tight security from the high-security Dhaka central jail in old Dhaka.

Sources said the defence lawyer appointed by the state prayed for granting time before the framing of the charges since concerned documents in relation to the case was yet to be received.

In another related development, the lawyers representing two human rights groups in Dhaka in whose favour the vakalatnama had been submitted earlier in the case were withdrawn on the prayer of Chetia and instead a new state defence lawyer was appointed to defend him in the case.

Earlier, during the hearing, the lawyers Elina Khan and Dr Kazi Akhtar Hamid, representing the human rights groups, human rights enforcement council and Bangladesh human rights commission told the court that they were the duly appointed lawyers of the accused and have filed a habeas corpus petition against the detention which is pending forhearing.

When they pleaded for taking part in the hearing, the court observed that the vakalatnama submitted by them had been withdrawn and a state defence lawyer had been appointed as per wish of the accused.

At this stage, in reply to a query from the judge, Chetia speaking in Bengali and then switching over to English said, ``we are grateful and thank them (the concerned lawyers) for filing petitions in the high court on our behalf. However, for the time, we have no objection if the defence lawyer appointed by the state defend us in the two cases.''

Earlier, Chetia complained to the court that they were facing problems in the jail in getting the things of daily use properly. The court then asked him to make a prayer to this effect through the jailor in accordance with the jail code.

The police in Bangladesh have filed cases against Chetia in the court charging him with illegal stay, possessing forged passports and possessing foreign currencies illegally. India made a renewed request to Bangladeshfor extradition of Chetia, wanted in connection with several murder cases when Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad met Home Minister L K Advani during the former's visit to New Delhi at the end of April.

Bangladesh Home Minister Rafique Islam replying to reporters' questions on the issue of India's renewed request for his extradition, said ``there has been number of cases against him (Chetia) and we (the government) have forwarded them to the court. The court will decide''.

He reiterated Bangladesh's position to follow legal procedure against an offender. Several opposition and rights groups in Bangladesh have opposed New Delhi's request to deport the ULFA leader.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh high court on May 26 adjourned until June 10 of the hearing in connection with Chetia's detention following the prayer for such adjournment by the government.