Dhaka, April 13 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered "swift action" after news broke of an extortion attempt at the Center for Kidney Diseases (CKD) & Urology Hospital, prosecution has said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi spoke during a hearing for four associates of prime suspect Moin Uddin, a former Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal activist.

"After the prime minister's directive, senior BNP leaders also visited the hospital to express their sympathy to Prof Kamrul Islam," Faruqi told the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam.

Calling for the maximum period of remand, the prosecutor described the hospital as a unique medical facility where thousands receive "free or low-cost treatment".

"The entire nation ...