The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be released on Government order at any moment for medical treatment, abroad as three separate Courts yesterday exempted her from personally appearing in hearings in four graft cases against her.

Earlier, a High Court Division Bench stalled the proceedings of the 'extortion' case filed by Azam J Chowdhury against Sheikh Hasina, while police yesterday returned three of her passports to her lawyer and relatives on an order of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

With the exemption from personal appearance in four cases and the executive order for her release all legal impediments will be cleared from the way for her journey overseas, senior jurists told The New Nation yesterday evening.

Sheikh Hasina, the President of Awami League (AL), facing trial in five separate corruption cases since her arrest on July 16 last year, will be released temporarily by an executive order under Section 401(4A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) following hectic negotiations between senior leaders of her party and policymakers of the Government, informed sources said.

One of her top counsel, Barrister Shafique Ahmed and a Chief Public Prosecutor (CPP) Advocate Sharfuddin Khan Mukul told this Correspondent that the trial of the graft cases against the former Prime Minister would continue in her absence, as she would be abroad.

In the meantime, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, in a press briefing yesterday, demanded unconditional release of the other detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for her medical treatment in the country.

He urged the Government to send his party chief's both the ailing imprisoned sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko-abroad for medical treatment "instead of ruminating over Begum Zia's denial to leave the country".

Earlier in the morning, a Special Court rejected the bail petition of Tarique Rahman in Bashundhara Group's Director Sabbir killing case, citing that the emergency power rules (EPR) do not allow a trial judge to entertain such a plea.

However, Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the Government was considering the issue of the release of two detained former Prime Ministers-Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina-for medical treatment abroad, on the basis of law, humanitarian ground and the peoples' expectation.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador James F Moriarty did not directly comment on the issue of the conditional release of the two former Prime Ministers, when asked after his meeting with three Government policymakers at the Secretariat yesterday.

But, he hastened to add, "I believe the Government will do everything according to the law of land and the people of this country will discharge their duties for smooth transition to democracy through a free, fair and credible general elections within December this year."

However, sources close to Sheikh Hasina's family and AL leadership said she would leave Dhaka for medical treatment in the US via London tomorrow and she has expressed her desire to hold a party meeting at her Sudha Sadan residence and place wreaths at the portrait of her assassinated father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban and offer special prayers at her father's Tungipara grave.

Another source, however, said she might fly on Thursday.