The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that the Government suddenly decided to begin trial of the second graft case against her sensing she could not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case.

Her Counsel Advocate Quamrul Islam said this after meeting her at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building. Sheikh Hasina is the President of Awami League (AL).

"The Government is clear that I could not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case as he did not identify me as an accused in the Court. As such, the Government has hurriedly decided to start trial of the second case," Sheikh Hasina was quoted to have told her visiting lawyer in the prison, where she is detained.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court, set up at the MP Hostel in Parliament Building, is scheduled to begin hearing another graft case for allegedly taking Tk 3 crore extortion money from two business houses- Summit Group and United Group.

"Expressing deep concern about the fairness of the trial of the new case, Sheikh Hasina apprehended that she might not get justice," said Advocate Quamrul Islam, who is also the Acting General Secretary of Dhaka City AL. Senior Advocate Golam Arif Tipu was also present during the two-hour meeting. He however, did not talk to the media.

Meanwhile, Acting AL President Zillur Rahman yesterday demanded the release of all 'political detainees', including party Chief Sheikh Hasina, and holding the general election in a free, fair and credible manner immediately.

"We are demanding of the Caretaker Government to free all the political detainees, including our leader Sheikh Hasina immediately," Zillur Rahman told a press conference, adding, "We want to see the general election is held in a free and fair manner as early as possible."

Held at the party's Dhanmondi office in the morning on conclusion on the AL's relief operation to help Cyclone Sidr victims, the press conference was attended, among others, by its Relief Committee Chairman Abdur Razzak and AL Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraf Hossain.

AL Relief Committee for Sidr victims, led by its Presidium member Abdur Razzak, presented statistics on relief materials, including the cash, distributed by the party among Sidr victims in the country's southwestern districts, to the journalists.

Zillur Rahman also urged the Caretaker Government to lift the state of emergency soon saying that their struggle for the freedom of Sheikh Hasina and restoration of democracy would continue until their demands are met.

He thanked the AL leaders and activists both at home and abroad for their outstanding efforts to help the thousands of Sidr-affected people.

"Soon after Cyclone Sidr hit the country, our party chief Sheikh Hasina had directed us to stand by its victims. Then we formed a committee to send relief materials for the victims. Our party leaders and workers both at home and abroad have come forward with outstanding efforts in aid of the Sidr victims. I, on behalf of my party, thank the warriors," Zillur said.

Relief Committee Chairman Abdur Razzak told journalists that since January 31, a total of Tk 1,78,61,170 was deposited to the relief fund and the whole amount has been distributed as aid for the Sidr victims of 10 districts.

"The entire money has been collected from AL workers across the country and abroad during the last two and half months' relief activities. We have spent the money first for those families who've lost their members in the Sidr attack," he said.

"Money has also been spent by providing clothes, rice, pulse and a big amount was spent on agri-rehabilitation programmes in the affected areas," he said, adding, "Medicines for thousands of people were also provided under the supervision of the Relief Committee."

Razzak said their relief activities for the Sidr victims have come to an end now, but money and other relief materials are still coming in and that will be deposited to AL 's central relief fund.