The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, now under detention in a sub-jail on corruption charge, has expressed her unwillingness to be enlisted in the ongoing voter list with photograph.

Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, family lawyer of Begum Zia, communicated the message to journalists after emerging from the makeshift jail in Parliament premises yesterday.

He said Begum Zia said the government arrested and detained her 'illegally' and so she would not become voter on protest.

Azam Khan said that the authorities had gone with voter-registration forms twice for making her voter, but she refused to register her name as voter.

He said Begum Zia expressed her concern over the price spiral as saying the spiralling of prices of essentials is a great crisis for the nation.

The immediate-past prime minister suggested the caretaker government should discuss with the detained politicians through roundtable meeting after releasing them unconditionally and take initiatives to tackle such tough situation applying their experiences.

Azam Khan said she (Begum Zia) urged the caretaker government to send abroad her two detained sons on treatment grounds, specially her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, who was not involved in politics.

"Khaleda Zia looks very scared about physical conditions of both of

her sons," he said.

About treatment of Begum Zia, the lawyer said she is very determined not to go abroad for the purpose. She intends to get treatment from the country's physicians and hospitals, if necessary, he said.

It may be mentioned that another detained former prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has already enlisted in the voter list from Dhanmondi area in the city as per the decision of the Election Commission to register the names of detainees and prisoners as voters.