Hasina freed on parole
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Awami League (AL) President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was released 'unconditionally' Wednesday for an interim period for her overseas treatment after a long legal and political battle, adding a new dimension to the country's political scenario, reports UNB.
After 329 days in incarceration, she walked out to freedom at about 1:50pm for eight weeks to August 6 under an executive order of the government Tuesday night.
Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with a corruption case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury at a time when there was crackdown launched by the interim regime on politicians and others during their rule or term in office. She was detained in a makeshift jail in the high-security parliament complex.
Witnesses said thousands of party workers showered flower petals and shouted welcome slogans as Hasina's car slowly moved towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi amid tight security.
She placed wreaths at the portrait of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and offered fateha there.
"Jeler Tala Bhengechhi, Sheikh Hasina Ke Enechhi (We've broken the jail lock, brought out Hasina)," chanted her ardent followers.
Later at about 2:32pm on the day, she drove to her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi Road No. 5, where she met with senior party leaders.
Wearing off-white printed cotton Sari, a smiling Hasina waved to thousands of her supporters from the balcony of Sudha Sadan.
Hasina has been suffering from acute problems with her ears and eyes, following deadly grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on August 21, 2004.
She is likely to fly for London today (Thursday) en route to America and Canada for treatment for her injured ears and ailing eyes, and to meet her son and daughter.
The executive order says the government decided to release Sheikh Hasina for an interim period of two months from June 11 to August 6 for medical treatment abroad following recommendations by a medical board."
"The government may cancel the order anytime without assigning any reason," says the order, which came amid some dramatic developments in the country's emergency-bound political scenario.
bdnews24.com adds: Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina made one comment to reporters upon her release from special jail Wednesday, saying: "I am well."
She left the special jail on the Sangsad Bhaban premises amid tight security.
On the way to her Sudha Sadan, the Awami League president stopped at the Bangabandhu Museum where she donning a Tangail saree, sat for some time in her childhood bedroom; her aunt Khadiza Begum accompanied her.
A home ministry order was earlier issued to release Hasina for eight weeks until Aug 6, inspector general of prisons, Brig Gen Zakir Hasan, said.
The IG said he had received the temporary release order just before noon.
When asked whether there were any conditions relating Hasina's seeking treatment overseas while being released on bail, he said there were no such conditions.
"She may go wherever she pleases for treatment, including overseas."
"But the government may cancel this order at any time, giving no reason," he added.
Meanwhile, Sajeeb Wazed Joy Wednesday expressed his happiness over the release of his mother Sheikh Hasina from jail.
"I am very happy," Sajeeb told bdnews24.com by phone from the US, hours after the former prime minister was released for eight weeks for better medical treatment abroad.
"Now I feel relieved. Now I will be able to ensure proper medical treatment for her," Sajeeb said.
Hasina will take a treatment for her ear in Florida and will go to Washington for her eye-treatment, he said.
Meanwhile, another report adds: Sheikh Hasina demanded the lifting of the state of emergency to create appropriate democratic environment ahead of the election.
Presiding over her party's central working-committee meeting at her Sudha Sadan house within hours of her release on parole, she asked the government to stop the current crackdown on political workers and demanded release of her party members by withdrawing all "false" cases against them.
Hasina also expressed concern over the price hike of essentials and asked the government to tackle it to assuage people's sufferings.
The former premier criticised the announcement of the national budget twice by the caretaker government, saying that it is a "violation of the constitution" to impose taxes without the sanction of parliament.
"Such situation cannot be repeated," she was quoted as saying.
During the meeting, Hasina expressed gratitude to AL leaders for remaining united that secured her interim release.
She expressed solidarity with the 6-point demand earlier put forward by the Awami League.
Govt handout
BSS adds: The government is always aware of the health condition of former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, an official handout said in the city Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the government has ensured the best available medical facilities for them in the country, it added.
In March 2008, an application was submitted to the government on behalf of the family of Sheikh Hasina for allowing her treatment abroad. In this regard, a medical board was formed by the government on June 5, 2008 to asses the progress in her treatment and also to determine the necessity of better treatment.
The government, the handout said, decided to allow her the opportunity as per her desire to get treatment abroad on the basis of recommendations of the medical board and after completion of due legal process.
Similarly, necessary arrangements will be made by the government through legal process regarding the treatment of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia either at home or abroad, the handout said.
After 329 days in incarceration, she walked out to freedom at about 1:50pm for eight weeks to August 6 under an executive order of the government Tuesday night.
Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with a corruption case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury at a time when there was crackdown launched by the interim regime on politicians and others during their rule or term in office. She was detained in a makeshift jail in the high-security parliament complex.
Witnesses said thousands of party workers showered flower petals and shouted welcome slogans as Hasina's car slowly moved towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi amid tight security.
She placed wreaths at the portrait of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and offered fateha there.
"Jeler Tala Bhengechhi, Sheikh Hasina Ke Enechhi (We've broken the jail lock, brought out Hasina)," chanted her ardent followers.
Later at about 2:32pm on the day, she drove to her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi Road No. 5, where she met with senior party leaders.
Wearing off-white printed cotton Sari, a smiling Hasina waved to thousands of her supporters from the balcony of Sudha Sadan.
Hasina has been suffering from acute problems with her ears and eyes, following deadly grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on August 21, 2004.
She is likely to fly for London today (Thursday) en route to America and Canada for treatment for her injured ears and ailing eyes, and to meet her son and daughter.
The executive order says the government decided to release Sheikh Hasina for an interim period of two months from June 11 to August 6 for medical treatment abroad following recommendations by a medical board."
"The government may cancel the order anytime without assigning any reason," says the order, which came amid some dramatic developments in the country's emergency-bound political scenario.
bdnews24.com adds: Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina made one comment to reporters upon her release from special jail Wednesday, saying: "I am well."
She left the special jail on the Sangsad Bhaban premises amid tight security.
On the way to her Sudha Sadan, the Awami League president stopped at the Bangabandhu Museum where she donning a Tangail saree, sat for some time in her childhood bedroom; her aunt Khadiza Begum accompanied her.
A home ministry order was earlier issued to release Hasina for eight weeks until Aug 6, inspector general of prisons, Brig Gen Zakir Hasan, said.
The IG said he had received the temporary release order just before noon.
When asked whether there were any conditions relating Hasina's seeking treatment overseas while being released on bail, he said there were no such conditions.
"She may go wherever she pleases for treatment, including overseas."
"But the government may cancel this order at any time, giving no reason," he added.
Meanwhile, Sajeeb Wazed Joy Wednesday expressed his happiness over the release of his mother Sheikh Hasina from jail.
"I am very happy," Sajeeb told bdnews24.com by phone from the US, hours after the former prime minister was released for eight weeks for better medical treatment abroad.
"Now I feel relieved. Now I will be able to ensure proper medical treatment for her," Sajeeb said.
Hasina will take a treatment for her ear in Florida and will go to Washington for her eye-treatment, he said.
Meanwhile, another report adds: Sheikh Hasina demanded the lifting of the state of emergency to create appropriate democratic environment ahead of the election.
Presiding over her party's central working-committee meeting at her Sudha Sadan house within hours of her release on parole, she asked the government to stop the current crackdown on political workers and demanded release of her party members by withdrawing all "false" cases against them.
Hasina also expressed concern over the price hike of essentials and asked the government to tackle it to assuage people's sufferings.
The former premier criticised the announcement of the national budget twice by the caretaker government, saying that it is a "violation of the constitution" to impose taxes without the sanction of parliament.
"Such situation cannot be repeated," she was quoted as saying.
During the meeting, Hasina expressed gratitude to AL leaders for remaining united that secured her interim release.
She expressed solidarity with the 6-point demand earlier put forward by the Awami League.
Govt handout
BSS adds: The government is always aware of the health condition of former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, an official handout said in the city Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the government has ensured the best available medical facilities for them in the country, it added.
In March 2008, an application was submitted to the government on behalf of the family of Sheikh Hasina for allowing her treatment abroad. In this regard, a medical board was formed by the government on June 5, 2008 to asses the progress in her treatment and also to determine the necessity of better treatment.
The government, the handout said, decided to allow her the opportunity as per her desire to get treatment abroad on the basis of recommendations of the medical board and after completion of due legal process.
Similarly, necessary arrangements will be made by the government through legal process regarding the treatment of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia either at home or abroad, the handout said.