Khaleda won't sign any bond for freedom
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Monday declined to apply for her release, saying that she won't sign any bond for freedom, report UNB/bdnews24.com
She accused the government of worsening health condition of her two sons in custody.
"When they (sons) were arrested they were in good health, they walked down to courts. Now they can't and the government is responsible for this," she told reporters at the special court where she was produced in connection with GATCO scam case.
She demanded that her elder son Tarique Rahman and youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko be sent abroad for better medical treatment as their health conditions were getting poor day by day.
Khaleda, her younger son Coco, and former ministers Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar and Motiur Rahman Nizami appeared in Special Judge's Court-3 earlier for charge framing proceedings in the Gatco graft case.
Coco was taken to the court from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital in an ambulance.
Talking to her lawyers during an hour-long legal consultation in a special court proceeding with the trial of the GATCO graft case against her, she was quoted by Adv Masud Talukdar as saying, "I did not make any appeal or request and I wouldn't do so for my release for treatment."
Khaleda further stated: "I don't want to go abroad by giving bond to anyone. I have all along been telling that I want to get my treatment here (in the country)."
The BNP chairperson, who is facing GATCO and Niko corruption cases in the changed situation, would like to have her unconditional release.
She reaffirmed her stance at a time when newspaper headlines say release of Khaleda and her two detained sons is only a matter of time -- a foregone conclusion as a sequel to the release of another former premier, Sheikh Hasina.
Since medical boards recommended that her detained sons need treatment abroad, she asked the government to send them abroad.
Khaleda alleged that Tarique and Koko had been in good health before their arrest but fell sick in custody for which she blamed the government.
She also had one-to-one parley with her secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain when they discussed organisational matters.
Advocate Masud said that she asked for selecting a new committee of Dhaka City BNP in consultation with city leaders and she would approve the committee.
Asked about the contents of exclusive talk with Khaleda, Delwar declined to divulge the direction he got but said outcome of the consultation would be reflected in his organisational activities.
The Anticorruption Commission filed the case against Khaleda and 12 others on Sept 2 last year with Tejgaon Police Station. The ACC later pressed charges, on May 13 this year, against 25 people in all.
The former Prime Minister said the caretaker administration must ensure equal application of law for all. She asked why her two detained sons were not being allowed to get better treatment outside the country. "If the government is neutral, they must be sent abroad," she asserted.
Calling for immediate lifting of 18-month-old state of emergency, Khaleda, Chairperson of BNP, demanded a credible election to parliament instead of 'selection.'
"We wont' have any objection to whoever comes to power through election but election must be acceptable to all," she said, adding elections could not be fair under the emergency.
Expressing concern at the price-hike after the announcement of national budget, Khaleda said the proposed 20 per cent dearness allowance for employees of government and autonomous bodies was not enough.
She accused the government of worsening health condition of her two sons in custody.
"When they (sons) were arrested they were in good health, they walked down to courts. Now they can't and the government is responsible for this," she told reporters at the special court where she was produced in connection with GATCO scam case.
She demanded that her elder son Tarique Rahman and youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko be sent abroad for better medical treatment as their health conditions were getting poor day by day.
Khaleda, her younger son Coco, and former ministers Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar and Motiur Rahman Nizami appeared in Special Judge's Court-3 earlier for charge framing proceedings in the Gatco graft case.
Coco was taken to the court from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital in an ambulance.
Talking to her lawyers during an hour-long legal consultation in a special court proceeding with the trial of the GATCO graft case against her, she was quoted by Adv Masud Talukdar as saying, "I did not make any appeal or request and I wouldn't do so for my release for treatment."
Khaleda further stated: "I don't want to go abroad by giving bond to anyone. I have all along been telling that I want to get my treatment here (in the country)."
The BNP chairperson, who is facing GATCO and Niko corruption cases in the changed situation, would like to have her unconditional release.
She reaffirmed her stance at a time when newspaper headlines say release of Khaleda and her two detained sons is only a matter of time -- a foregone conclusion as a sequel to the release of another former premier, Sheikh Hasina.
Since medical boards recommended that her detained sons need treatment abroad, she asked the government to send them abroad.
Khaleda alleged that Tarique and Koko had been in good health before their arrest but fell sick in custody for which she blamed the government.
She also had one-to-one parley with her secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain when they discussed organisational matters.
Advocate Masud said that she asked for selecting a new committee of Dhaka City BNP in consultation with city leaders and she would approve the committee.
Asked about the contents of exclusive talk with Khaleda, Delwar declined to divulge the direction he got but said outcome of the consultation would be reflected in his organisational activities.
The Anticorruption Commission filed the case against Khaleda and 12 others on Sept 2 last year with Tejgaon Police Station. The ACC later pressed charges, on May 13 this year, against 25 people in all.
The former Prime Minister said the caretaker administration must ensure equal application of law for all. She asked why her two detained sons were not being allowed to get better treatment outside the country. "If the government is neutral, they must be sent abroad," she asserted.
Calling for immediate lifting of 18-month-old state of emergency, Khaleda, Chairperson of BNP, demanded a credible election to parliament instead of 'selection.'
"We wont' have any objection to whoever comes to power through election but election must be acceptable to all," she said, adding elections could not be fair under the emergency.
Expressing concern at the price-hike after the announcement of national budget, Khaleda said the proposed 20 per cent dearness allowance for employees of government and autonomous bodies was not enough.