The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was taken back to jail after attending a Court of law in a corruption case amid her complaints that her treatment remained incomplete at the hospital, while she was subjected to mental torture in custody.

"I am the victim of mental torture as I speak and work for the people," she told the Judge when she was produced before the Special Court in connection with the Barge-mounted Power Plants Scam Case.

Earlier, authorities of the Square Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment, discharged Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) President, at 2:00pm. She was driven straight from the hospital to the Court at 2:18pm for a charge hearing.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamusl Haider Siddiqui told journalists outside the Court that since she was discharged by the hospital, Sheikh Hasina was sent back to prison.

The former Prime Minister was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case and since then detained in the makeshift jail in the highly secured parliament building complex.

"I was was discharged by the hospital authorities without completing my treatment," Sheikh Hasina told the Court, adding, "This is inhuman."

She was admitted to the Square Hospital on March 11 with multiple health complications including acute problem in her damaged ears.

"What is the reason of dragging me to the court straight from the hospital leaving my treatment incomplete?" said Sheikh Hasina, who is the eldest daughter of the assassinated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mjuibur Rahman, and the second surviving member of his family.

"This is nothing but mental harassment. Where will I get justice? Who will ensure me justice?" she said in the Court of Judge M Firoz Alam in an emotion choked voice, while tears was rolling down her cheeks.

She further complained that she has already lost hearing in her one ear and 25 percent of vision in her left eye due to what she said negligence of the jail authorities.

Sheikh Hasina suffered damage to her ears following the grenade blasts at an AL rally in the capital on August 21 in 2004, when the other detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was ruling the country.

The Court was scheduled to resume at 9:30 AM for hearing of the defence discharge petition against the prosecution motion for framing charges against her in the case. At about 11:40 AM, a Court clerk informed that the Court would resume at 2:00pm, but he gave no reason for the delay.

Her top Counsel, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, and two other lawyers left the Court with the perception that it would not sit yesterday.

But when the court resumed at 2:20 PM, Sheikh Hasina said she was brought to the Court with a discharge certificate from the hospital without completing her treatment although she was very sick.

She said she wondered as to why her long time personal physicians were not allowed to treat her at the Square Hospital.

She said everywhere in the world there is a provision for on-call doctors from outside to attend a patient in a hospital, but she was denied such a privilege.

The AL President said her doctors already made it known that treatment of her ears and eyes is not possible in the country.

Besides, she alleged that the Jail Code is not being properly followed in allowing her relations and lawyers to meet her from time to time.

She further alleged that the cases filed against her were false and fabricated.

Chief Special Public Prosecutor Sharfuddin Khan Mukul prayed to the Court for starting further proceedings of the case following Sheikh Hasina's lengthy statement.

Opposing Mukul, defence Counsel Qamrul Islam told the Court that since Hasina is sick and her senior Counsel is not available in the court, the proceedings should be adjourned for the day.

Hearing both the sides, the Court adjourned the hearing until April 3 on two counts -principal accused Sheikh Hasina was sick in the dock and her senior Counsel not present for moving the discharge petition.