The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman yesterday requested the caretaker government to unconditionally release detained party chief Sheikh Hasina and arrange her appropriate treatment abroad.

"The government should release Sheikh Hasina unconditionally as she is not such a personality who goes to ground, and it should take proper initiative to send her abroad for better ear treatment," he said.

The party's acting chief made the request a day after Hasina's husband, Dr Wazed Mia, formally applied to the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government for sending her to the United States on unconditional release for treatment.

Meanwhile, seriously sick AL general secretary Abdul Jalil has been released on parole from jail custody and taken to Singapore for his treatment.

Zillur made the plea while talking to reporters when party leaders of Comilla and Georgia, USA, unit met him at his Gulshan residence.

Responding to a query whether sending Hasina abroad is part of implementing the so-called 'minus-two' formula, the acting AL president said, "I hope that the government will not create such bad times."

The minus-two formula, floated at the outset of the political reforms launched by the interim regime following the past political crisis, envisages sending the two former premiers-Hasina and Khaleda Zia-into exile for changing what is dubbed dynastic leadership of their two former ruling parties.

Appreciating the government decision on Jalil's treatment abroad through release on parole, Zillur requested the government for giving such scope to other ailing political detainees too.ahead of parliamentary polls, he said holding local elections is not the obligation of this government. The main duty of this government is to hand over power to an elected government by holding elections.

"News regarding holing local-body elections has created uncertainty among the people over holding national polls," Zillur said and asked the government to announce the date of national elections immediately to remove anxiety from people's mind.