The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Detained ex-PM and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the decision taken by her party's extended meeting as well as the central working committee on political dialogue with the caretaker government is conclusive.

The Awami League central working committee, following an extended meeting with grassroots-level leaders, has decided not to go for dialogue or election without party-chief Hasina leading them as a free person.

Her top counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who met with Hasina at the makeshift jail in the morning, told UNB that the Awami League chief wants dialogue and quick holding of the parliamentary elections for transfer of power to elected representatives.

"Prolonged rule by an unelected government will only aggravate the sufferings of the people. Such rule cannot bring welfare for the people," she was quoted by Shafique as having said.

During the consultation, lasting two hours and 45 minutes, Shafique along with Adv Yusuf Hossain Humayun discussed matters related to the Niko scam case, one of 15 graft cases filed against the former premier arrested amid a crackdown on former ruling politicians in the interim period.

A special court set up in the parliament complex will resume today for charge hearing in the Niko case. Her arch-political

rival detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is also scheduled to stand in the dock today in another special court nearby for charge hearing in a different Niko graft case.

Earlier, the court had granted a defence petition for consultation with Hasina in connection with the case at the sub-jail.

Hasina firmly told her lawyers that she didn't commit any offence by approving the draft agreement on gas exploration and extraction with the Canadian oil-company Niko under which the work didn't even start. She had only approved a draft agreement based on opinion of an expert committee.

She instructed her lawyers to move bail petition in the Niko case, which is not tagged with the Emergency Power Rules that revokes right to seek bail.

Hasina, who is suffering from acute ear and eye-vision problems, apprehended that her one ear and one eye might be damaged permanently if she is not treated abroad.

On December 9 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Hasina and other persons concerned, as a sweeping drive against corruption has been underway under the interim regime.

On May 7, the ACC submitted charge sheet against Hasina and eight others to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, showing 51 persons as prosecution witnesses. Later, the case was sent to the special court for trial.