Tarique's release held up

FE Team | Published: September 03, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Despite all indications from the prisons authority that Tarique Rahman was all set for release Tuesday, the last remaining document did not arrive in time for them to free him on bail, reports bdnews24.com. brTarique's wife Zobaida Rahman and other visitors left his bedside at BSMMU Hospital around 8pm Tuesday in a clear sign that the detained BNP leader would not be released before Wednesday, at the earliest. brZobaida had arrived at the hospital at 330pm driving past crowds of chanting BNP supporters who had gathered to cheer for the elder son of detained party chief Khaleda Zia on his release. brZobaida's elder sister Shahina Akhter Khan Bindu and BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain also left the hospital with her later. brDelwar later told the reporters, At the moment there is no news of Tarique's release. If there is any news I will inform you. He urged the party leaders and workers to maintain calm and leave the hospital premises. brOne of Tarique's lawyers, Mahbubuddin Khokan, said Copies of the orders of the High Court in all the cases and bail bonds reached the jail authority in the morning. brOnly the Appellate Division order regarding the (Bashundhara Group director) Sabbir murder case was yet to reach the authority. It was delivered by 3pm Tuesday. According to law, the bail bonds must also reach the trial courts. We submitted the last bond at 330pm. But Tarique's release is being delayed, as the judge did not sign it. brHe said Tarique would be released after the judge signs the bond, and the paper reaches the jail authority. brInspector General (prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hasan had said earlier that detainees were not normally released, if their papers were not processed by 6pm. brHowever, another top official said exceptions to the rule may be made in special cases. If the government decides to treat this as a special case and instruct us to release him, we can do that, said the official, who insisted not to be named. brMeanwhile, chaos had put healthcare services at BSMMU Hospital into a perilous situation, as hundreds of followers flock to the hospital premises daily to greet their to-be-released leader Tarique Rahman.brSeveral doctors, nurses, visitors and officials alleged that providing healthcare services has been difficult because of a huge presence of Tarique's followers, especially members of the Jatiyotabadi Chhatro Dal, the student wing of the BNP. Even the supporters often chant slogans demanding Tarique's release. They also chanted anti-government slogans Tuesday.br