Hasina sorry for not being with cyclone-hit countrymen

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Detained former prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has expressed her deep sorrow for not being able to stand beside the people hit hard by the super cyclone SIDR, her special assistant said.
Hasina poured her heart out to husband Wazed Miah who went to meet her at the special jail on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises on their 40th wedding anniversary Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.
They spent an hour together. Their grandson Shamsur Rahman Tutul was also with Wazed. Wazed last met Hasina in jail on October 30.
Hasina's Special Assistant Dr Hasan Mahmud told reporters at the makeshift jail gate that Hasina was very sorry as she could not stand beside the cyclone affected people.
"She said that truth will prevail one day," Mahmud said.
Mahmud alleged that Hasina's relatives and lawyer had not been allowed to meet her for several days. The cable television (TV) connection to her special jail had also been cut off, he said.
He also demanded of the authorities concerned to supply all national newspapers to her.
Deputy Inspector General (prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told the news agency that they allowed relatives and lawyers to meet Hasina in line with the jail code.
"The jail code does not allow prisoners to watch cable TV. The former prime minister was able to watch cable television for some days as the house where she is now being held already had a cable TV connection."
He said that the jail code did not allow prisoners to receive more than four newspapers a day.
Meanwhile, Acting Awami League President Zillur Rahman reiterated his demand Saturday for the release of party president Sheikh Hasina so that she could stand beside the cyclone-hit people.
"Had our party chief Sheikh Hasina been freed, she would have extended her all-out cooperation to the cyclone victims as she did in the past," he told reporters at his Gulshan residence in the afternoon, reports UNB.
Expressing sympathy for the families of those died in the devastating cyclone, Zillur said the victims should immediately be provided with shelter and food, while the injured be given proper medicare.
Zillur urged the government to take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of the cyclone victims and said the affected farmers and fishermen be provided with cash and other materials, including fertiliser, pesticides and power pumps free of cost.
He also urged the government to provide fresh farm loans to the cyclone-hit people, writing off their existing loans.
Zillur further called upon the party leaders and workers to stand by the cyclone victims.
He said a medical team of Shadhinota Chikitshok Parisad has already left for Barishal to provide medical services to the survivors of the cyclone.
Besides, an Awami League relief team, headed by former party lawmaker KM Jahangir, would also visit the affected coastal areas.