The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

Senior officials have started working out modalities for sending detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abroad for treatment on parole, as directive of the Government policymakers, informed sources told The New Nation yesterday.

Top policymakers of the Government at a meeting, on Wednesday took the decision after her scientist husband Dr Wazed Miah met her at the Square Hospital and conveyed to them that Sheikh Hasina gave him a green signal to go abroad on parole.

Dr Wazed Mia, earlier applied to the Chief Adviser to release Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) President, on parole for treatment abroad. AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Alam, in a formal letter recently, also requested the Chief Adviser to free her to fly to the US for treatment.

Presided over by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office, the meeting was reportedly attended, among others, by four Advisers-Anwarul Iqbal, AF Hassan Ariff, Maj Gen (Retd) Golam Quader and Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and the Chiefs of three services.

The two-hour meeting formed a Secretary-Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder to work out the modalities on four issues-the release of Sheikh Hasina on parole, formation of the National Security Council, elections to the Supreme Court Bar and Dhaka University Teachers' associations.

The Secretary Committee after a meeting yesterday discussed the issue with Adviser of Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin, the sources said, adding that the release of Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of the other detained Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for treatment was also discussed.

Begum Zia, also the BNP Chairperson, recently demanded of the Government to free her youngest son for treament abroad through her lawyers, who met her in prison.

The Jail Authority brought Sheikh Hasina to Square Hospital for medical check-up yesterday.

Meanwhile, reiterating his demand for immediate release of ailing Sheikh Hasina, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said, "Her release is the only solution to the problems facing the nation.