The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Imprisoned former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her willingness to go abroad for treatment, her personal physician Prof Dr ABM Abdullah disclosed this after examining her health condition for the third consecutive day.

After conducting a three-hour medical checkup of Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the Awami League (AL), the physician said he has advised the jail authorities to send her to the USA since the treatment of her ear complication could not be done in any other country of the world.

A medical expert, Dr ABM Abdullah, who is a Professor of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), yesterday conducted the medical checkup at her makeshift Special Jail, situated on the premises of Parliament-building complex, where Sheikh Hasina is detained.

In reply to a question about Sheikh Hasina's intention to go abroad for treatment, Prof Abdullah said she has indicated that she would agree on treatment abroad if her physicians advised.

"I will do whatever you will advise," he quoted the former Prime Minister as telling him when he sought her consent on her treatment abroad.

DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui reiterated his position while talking to journalists yesterday that the jail authorities are very much sincere about her treatment, but the law does not allow to send her abroad.

"We have requested her to receive treatment at any hospital of her choice under her selected doctors inside the country," the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) said, adding, "We would have been pleased to do that (send her abroad,) but jail code does not permit us."

Earlier, on Saturday the AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, after a meeting said the AL would bear all expenses of Sheikh Hasina's treatment in the USA, saying her ear treatment is possible only in the USA.

Meanwhile, the charge hearing in the Mig-29 purchase-scam case against Sheikh Hasina will be held on February 27 in presence of her as per a Court order passed yesterday.

Divisional Special Judge Golam Mortuza fixed the date and issued a "production warrant" against Sheikh Hasina. The High Court on September 6, 2007 vacated an order of stay on hearing in the case, clearing the way for the trial court to proceed.

On February 14, the court received case records.

Sheikh Hasina's counsel yesterday filed a time petition, which was rejected by the Court.

Other accused in the Mig-29 case are former Air Commodore Mirza Asgar Akhter, ex-Air Vice-Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Mohammad Hossain Sherniabat, businessman Noor Ali, Syed Yousuf Hossain and former army chief General Mostafizur Rahman.

All of the accused but Sheikh Hasina are on bail.