Releasing Khaleda, her sons under govt consideration
Thursday, 12 June 2008
The caretaker government has attached the highest importance to humanitarian considerations like releasing detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her two sons for treatment, journalists were told Tuesday, reports UNB.
Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman disclosed the government step at a post-dialogue joint press briefing, as another detained premier, Sheikh Hasina, already walked to freedom Wednesday on medical grounds for her treatment abroad.
He said such humanitarian considerations are aimed at creating environment of confidence to involve all political parties in the ongoing dialogue to reach consensus on important national issues and peaceful transition to democracy.
"We are doing whatever necessary and advancing specifically through making successful coordination of legal process and humanitarian considerations, without wasting time, to create environment of confidence of all. Our main objective is to involve all political parties - we have wanted this from the beginning," said the Adviser, who acts as spokesman for the caretaker government in the current dealings with the politicians.
He made the remarks responding to questions regarding release of Sheikh Hasina and her participation in dialogue, release of Khaleda Zia, Arafat Rahman Coco and Tarique Rahman for treatment.
The Education Adviser was speaking at the briefing to disseminate the outcome of Wednesday's dialogue between the caretaker government and Unity for Political Reforms (UPR), held at the Chief Adviser's office.
UPR chief coordinator and former minister ASM Abdur Rab, speaking at the joint briefing, said they want a drastic change in the Constitution of 1972 for decentralisation of the centralised power, introducing federal system of government and bicameral parliament.
ASMA Rab, who led a six-member delegation in the dialogue, the tenth spell of the ongoing govt-political parties' dialogue, put forward a number of demands during the talks.
They include prohibition on hartal and blockade which destroy industries and factories as well as arson, rampage and other acts of vandalism, creating a post for deputy speaker in the parliament reserved for women, balancing power of Prime Minister and President, forming national security council (NSC), strengthening the local government, trial of the war-criminals and identifying the reason why the trial of those had not taken place in the last 37 years.
Asked whether the government has plans or is expecting Sheikh Hasina in the ongoing dialogue, Adviser Zillur said their invitation and desire both are on stream. From the beginning, they have wanted her (Hasina) along with others at the dialogue, and still this hope exists.
Asked about release of Khaleda's two sons - Tarique and Coco - and Khaleda herself for treatment, he said humanitarian considerations have been given the highest importance.
He said the government is doing whatever necessary, without wasting time, through "successful combination of legal process and humanitarian considerations", and advancing with this attitude.
Replying to another supplementary, he said they have kept the matter under highest considerations and hoped that the environment of confidence would be established in a stronger way.
Asked what if Sheikh Hasina does not come back, Zillur said she has been released for specific time for treatment, and everything is going on the basis of confidence.
Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman disclosed the government step at a post-dialogue joint press briefing, as another detained premier, Sheikh Hasina, already walked to freedom Wednesday on medical grounds for her treatment abroad.
He said such humanitarian considerations are aimed at creating environment of confidence to involve all political parties in the ongoing dialogue to reach consensus on important national issues and peaceful transition to democracy.
"We are doing whatever necessary and advancing specifically through making successful coordination of legal process and humanitarian considerations, without wasting time, to create environment of confidence of all. Our main objective is to involve all political parties - we have wanted this from the beginning," said the Adviser, who acts as spokesman for the caretaker government in the current dealings with the politicians.
He made the remarks responding to questions regarding release of Sheikh Hasina and her participation in dialogue, release of Khaleda Zia, Arafat Rahman Coco and Tarique Rahman for treatment.
The Education Adviser was speaking at the briefing to disseminate the outcome of Wednesday's dialogue between the caretaker government and Unity for Political Reforms (UPR), held at the Chief Adviser's office.
UPR chief coordinator and former minister ASM Abdur Rab, speaking at the joint briefing, said they want a drastic change in the Constitution of 1972 for decentralisation of the centralised power, introducing federal system of government and bicameral parliament.
ASMA Rab, who led a six-member delegation in the dialogue, the tenth spell of the ongoing govt-political parties' dialogue, put forward a number of demands during the talks.
They include prohibition on hartal and blockade which destroy industries and factories as well as arson, rampage and other acts of vandalism, creating a post for deputy speaker in the parliament reserved for women, balancing power of Prime Minister and President, forming national security council (NSC), strengthening the local government, trial of the war-criminals and identifying the reason why the trial of those had not taken place in the last 37 years.
Asked whether the government has plans or is expecting Sheikh Hasina in the ongoing dialogue, Adviser Zillur said their invitation and desire both are on stream. From the beginning, they have wanted her (Hasina) along with others at the dialogue, and still this hope exists.
Asked about release of Khaleda's two sons - Tarique and Coco - and Khaleda herself for treatment, he said humanitarian considerations have been given the highest importance.
He said the government is doing whatever necessary, without wasting time, through "successful combination of legal process and humanitarian considerations", and advancing with this attitude.
Replying to another supplementary, he said they have kept the matter under highest considerations and hoped that the environment of confidence would be established in a stronger way.
Asked what if Sheikh Hasina does not come back, Zillur said she has been released for specific time for treatment, and everything is going on the basis of confidence.