Hasina seeks removal of legal bar to treatment abroad, Khaleda says
Monday, 9 June 2008
Detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Sunday spurned a reported government plan for sending her abroad for medical treatment while another former premier Sheikh Hasina appealed to a special judge to spare her from appearing in court in person to remove the legal barriers to her treatment overseas, report UNB/bdnews24.com.
The court is expected to rule on the appeal of Sheikh Hasina today (Monday.)
'Why abroad? How do you know about it,' Khaleda posed a counter-query with squeezed eyebrows to reporters in a special court that is holding her trial in the Niko graft case.
As the reporters told her that they came to know from different sources in the government, Khaleda said, 'You'd better ask them.'
The immediate-past Prime Minister said, 'I will stay in this country. All my things belong to this country. Why should I go abroad?'
Asked about the formation of a medical board and its recommendation for her treatment abroad, Khaleda retorted: 'There are many good doctors here. Is the condition of the country so bad that requires me to go abroad for treatment?'
The BNP chairperson demanded immediate election to parliament, saying that a 'famine-like situation is prevailing in the country and people are starving.' About a government move to amend the Constitution, Khaleda, flanked by her lawyers, said if it is needed, an elected government would do it. 'This caretaker government has no mandate to do it.'
Khaleda, who was arrested on September 3 last year in connection with GATCO graft case and is also facing the Niko scam case, called for her trial in open court under the existing laws of the land instead of a special court.
Terming the cases 'false' and 'baseless,' she said those are designed to 'harass' her. She was produced before the court at 11:15 am, few minutes before the court resumed its proceedings. Judge Khandaker Kamal Uzzaman deferred the charge hearing in the Niko case to June 12 on a legal plea from the defence counsel.
The counsel questioned why Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would be tried in two separate courts in the same case involving the same event, same summary and same evidence.
The court deferred the hearing to June 12 in order to take a decision on this legal point. Defence lawyers Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Rezzak Khan, Ahmed Azam and Sanaullah Mia, among others, stood for Khaleda Zia.
On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina's lawyers Sunday appealed to a special judge to spare the former prime minister from a legal binding to appear in court in person in the barge-mounted power plants corruption case.
Lawyers said the step was taken to remove legal barriers to a plan to send the Awami League president abroad for better medical treatment.
Emerging from the court of judge M Firoz Alam at 7:30pm, her lawyer Barrister Shafique Ahmed told journalists that there is no longer any legal bar to Hasina going abroad for treatment.
Barrister Shafique earlier filed a petition in this respect on grounds of her illness, hot on the heels of government arrangement for her treatment, including the formation of a medical board.
"The court has accepted her prayer. We will get a certified copy of the court order tomorrow morning," he said.
Asked about Hasina's bail in connection with Niko scam case, he said, "We did not press for it as if the government wants, it can now send her abroad for treatment."
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Shahidul Islam did not oppose the defence petition during hearing on the plea.
Amid a high drama, Judge Firoz Alam resumed his special court in the parliament-building complex for a second time at 5:30pm. After a brief hearing, the court fixed today (Monday) for issuing a certified copy of its exemption order.
Hasina, president of Awami League, has been suffering from acute problems with her ears and eyes. Earlier in the day, she said through her lawyers that she would abide by the government- formed medical board's advice regarding her treatment abroad.
Meanwhile, thousands of Awami League leaders, workers and supporters thronged the high-security parliament area amidst report that their detained leader might be released anytime.
Hasina's aunt Khadija Begum also rushed to meet her at the makeshift jail at about 7.0pm amid the evening haste. Her husband Dr Wazed Ali Mia was also on way to meet her at the jail.
Hasina was detained on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case of Tk 3 crore filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury, in the wake of a purge in the interim period.
She is facing as many as 15 cases of alleged corruption and extortion.
The court is expected to rule on the appeal of Sheikh Hasina today (Monday.)
'Why abroad? How do you know about it,' Khaleda posed a counter-query with squeezed eyebrows to reporters in a special court that is holding her trial in the Niko graft case.
As the reporters told her that they came to know from different sources in the government, Khaleda said, 'You'd better ask them.'
The immediate-past Prime Minister said, 'I will stay in this country. All my things belong to this country. Why should I go abroad?'
Asked about the formation of a medical board and its recommendation for her treatment abroad, Khaleda retorted: 'There are many good doctors here. Is the condition of the country so bad that requires me to go abroad for treatment?'
The BNP chairperson demanded immediate election to parliament, saying that a 'famine-like situation is prevailing in the country and people are starving.' About a government move to amend the Constitution, Khaleda, flanked by her lawyers, said if it is needed, an elected government would do it. 'This caretaker government has no mandate to do it.'
Khaleda, who was arrested on September 3 last year in connection with GATCO graft case and is also facing the Niko scam case, called for her trial in open court under the existing laws of the land instead of a special court.
Terming the cases 'false' and 'baseless,' she said those are designed to 'harass' her. She was produced before the court at 11:15 am, few minutes before the court resumed its proceedings. Judge Khandaker Kamal Uzzaman deferred the charge hearing in the Niko case to June 12 on a legal plea from the defence counsel.
The counsel questioned why Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would be tried in two separate courts in the same case involving the same event, same summary and same evidence.
The court deferred the hearing to June 12 in order to take a decision on this legal point. Defence lawyers Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Rezzak Khan, Ahmed Azam and Sanaullah Mia, among others, stood for Khaleda Zia.
On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina's lawyers Sunday appealed to a special judge to spare the former prime minister from a legal binding to appear in court in person in the barge-mounted power plants corruption case.
Lawyers said the step was taken to remove legal barriers to a plan to send the Awami League president abroad for better medical treatment.
Emerging from the court of judge M Firoz Alam at 7:30pm, her lawyer Barrister Shafique Ahmed told journalists that there is no longer any legal bar to Hasina going abroad for treatment.
Barrister Shafique earlier filed a petition in this respect on grounds of her illness, hot on the heels of government arrangement for her treatment, including the formation of a medical board.
"The court has accepted her prayer. We will get a certified copy of the court order tomorrow morning," he said.
Asked about Hasina's bail in connection with Niko scam case, he said, "We did not press for it as if the government wants, it can now send her abroad for treatment."
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Shahidul Islam did not oppose the defence petition during hearing on the plea.
Amid a high drama, Judge Firoz Alam resumed his special court in the parliament-building complex for a second time at 5:30pm. After a brief hearing, the court fixed today (Monday) for issuing a certified copy of its exemption order.
Hasina, president of Awami League, has been suffering from acute problems with her ears and eyes. Earlier in the day, she said through her lawyers that she would abide by the government- formed medical board's advice regarding her treatment abroad.
Meanwhile, thousands of Awami League leaders, workers and supporters thronged the high-security parliament area amidst report that their detained leader might be released anytime.
Hasina's aunt Khadija Begum also rushed to meet her at the makeshift jail at about 7.0pm amid the evening haste. Her husband Dr Wazed Ali Mia was also on way to meet her at the jail.
Hasina was detained on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case of Tk 3 crore filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury, in the wake of a purge in the interim period.
She is facing as many as 15 cases of alleged corruption and extortion.