Tarique freed on bail

Tarique Rahman, elder son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia, was released on bail Wednesday after nearly 18 months in detention and drama in power politics, report UNB and bdnews24.com.brJail guards were withdrawn from his cabin in the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital at 430pm, leaving him free. Tarique's wife Zobaida Rahman drove to the hospital minutes after authorities released him on bail. brEarlier, Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui emerged from Tarique's hospital cabin to announce to reporters that he had just been released. Siddiqui went to meet with Tarique at around 350pm. brTarique's much-orchestrated release came into reality after the High Court had granted him bail in all 13 graft cases, and the Supreme Court upheld the High Court decision through rejecting the government and Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) appeals for stay on Monday.brReceiving late the last one of bail documents on Tuesday afternoon, the jail authorities set him free from custody, but he remained under treatment in a different cabin of the BSMMU.brKazi Mazharul Islam Dolon, arthroscopic and joint replacement specialist at BSMMU Hospital, said Tarique's physical condition remained all the same. brTarique, suffering from spinal cord complications, may be sent to Germany for better treatment. Separate medical boards formed for his health checkups have suggested sending him abroad for treatment.brHundreds of leaders and workers of BNP and its front organisations thronged the BSMMU to celebrate the freedom of their leader. They welcomed Tarique, also senior joint secretary general of the party, as their merry moment came at last. brHowever, the hospital plunged into total chaos ahead of the imminent release of Tarique, as the BNP supporters crammed the hospital and nearby areas in Shahbag. A significant number of enthusiastic people also joined them. They were chanting slogans for the release of Tarique and Khaleda. brThey also assaulted 'reformist' BNP leaders Ehsanul Haque Milon and Barkat Ullah Bulu. Later, police and some leaders saved them from the angry mob. Other pro-reform leaders fled the scene in a hurry seeing their fate. brThe rush also caused sufferings to the patients and disrupted treatment, said doctors. There's little space to move. We're having great difficulty, said a doctor, who preferred not to be named. brTarique (43), believed to be a political heir of the Zia family, was arrested on March 7 last year from their cantonment residence by army-led joint forces amid a purge against crime and corruption after the 111 changeover following a political crisis over election issues.brHis mother Khaleda Zia and younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko were also arrested on graft charges. Koko was released on July 17 on health grounds. He is now undergoing treatment for his respiratory complications at Bumrungrad International Hospital.brOf the 13 pending cases against Tarique, nine were filed by police and individuals on various charges, including extortion, three by the ACC on charges of graft, and one by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for tax evasion. brAfter Tarique, the road towards the release of Khaleda Zia now looks smooth. So long, she has refused to get released before the release of her two sons.brKhaleda's release may help ease the muddled-up situation in the country's political turf ahead of the general election slated for the third week of December.brBNP leadership, of late, said the troubled immediate-past ruling party would join political dialogue with the caretaker government and take part in the elections, if Khaleda is freed.br