The New Nation - Internet Edition

AS per reports in both print and electronics media ,it is clear that Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina needs immediate medical treatment particularly for her ear problem. But the Government has constraint to send her abroad for better tratment because of the unavailability of such type of provision in our jail code.

It is understood from the version of her personal physician that Sheikh Hasina is suffering from serious allergy. Well, there is every possibility that some physician in our country may dispense steroid to mitigate her discomforts quickly. But as my personal experience goes, this may relieve her of the present trouble but may create serious problem in the near future. Moreover she is reportedly have developed oedema!

I think, first of all, the cause of her allergy should accurately be isolated. I suspect, it may be originated from her ear disorder of which our country doesn't have modern treatment facilities. So, she urgently need to go to an advanced country for her treatment.

Now the question is how the Government can allow her to go abroad as there is no such provision/clause in our law for an under-trial prisoner. I feel, a way can be worked out if the policy-makers in the government sit together and review the relevant laws of the land and outside.Meanwhile, as a layman, in my opinion :-

1. Although an under-trial prisoner, Sheikh Hasina being a former Prime Minister is entitled to enjoy some special privileges.

2. If the former PM is put under the category of 'Political Prisoner', perhaps some way may be worked out.

3. Political prisoners in graft case, in my view, may be granted bail on humanitarian consideration for medical treatemnt if some one or more person(s) provide bond(s) for a huge amount of money even which may not be equivalent to the amount involved in the graft.

I made the above observation on the basis of a provision in the graft related laws of the United States that, any gift, the value/price of which is over US $200 given to the President of the United States of America will not be considered as a gift given to the President but to the Office of the Presidency. And if the President wishes to take it with him on completion of his term in the White House, the outgoing President have to buy that gift by paying the value. Otherwise it would fall in the graft rule.

To conclude, I would like to say that the Caretaker Governemnt is sincerely dealing with cases weighing humanitarian values and I have enough reason to believe that if expert opinion is taken, a way will be found for arranging better treatment for the ailing former PM Sheikh Hasina.

Professor M Zahidul Haque

Chairman,

Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System,

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural

University,

Dhaka.