The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Exit deal: Release order can be cancelled anytime without assigning any reason, AL chief can’t make any statement while abroad, Refraining from street agitation at home and abroad, Participation in polls as per roadmap, Release of those leaders who are convicted in graft case cannot be demanded, Return to the country as per commitment.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was released yesterday after 16 months on parole for eight weeks for medical treatment abroad on condition that she would not issue political and anti-government statements at home and abroad during the period.

Her party the Awami League (AL) claimed that the party President was released unconditionally for an interim period for her overseas treatment.

A Government handout said Sheikh Hasina was released under an executive order signed by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Tuesday night on the directive of President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed.

"The Government may cancel the release order any moment without assigning reason," the brief press note said, hinting that her freedom was temporary and conditional. Earlier, an official medical board recommended the Government to send her abroad for medical treatment.

She was released from her high-security prison-bungalow on the premises of Parliament building complex at about 1:50pm exactly after 329 days of isolation from the world. She was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with graft charges.

Political and diplomatic circles in Dhaka termed her release as a major development in national politics, saying that it would help resolve the political stalemate in the country. They expressed the hope that the other detained Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia would also be released soon and go abroad for medical treatment.

In an important development, Sheikh Hasina, at an emergency meeting of AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) at her Sudha Sadan residence with herself in the chair yesterday night, proposed that the party would sit for dialogue with the Government under the leadership of party Acting President Zillur Rahman.

Earlier, she had a closed door meeting with the AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party at the same venue. The ALCWC unanimously accepted her proposal to join the dialogue. The AL President said she would join the political dialogue on her return from the US.

She sat for a dialogue meeting with four Advisers of the Caretaker Government after 9:00pm at her residence, as the official policymakers visited her.

The four Government policymakers were-Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Law Adviser Advocate Hassan Ariff and Commerce Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader.

The outcomes of the meeting could not be known till filing of this report till midnight last night.

Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka this morning for London by a British Airways flight to the US via Canada for medical treatment.

When reached over telephone, her only son Sajib Wazed Joy, who lives in the US, told that his mother would meet her younger sister Sheikh Rehana in London and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul in Canada. "We have made arrangements for her medical treatment in the US," he said, adding, "The Government has released my mother for her medical treatment."

Immediately after her release, Sheikh Hasina, under foolproof security and surrounded by hundreds of party leaders and supporters drove directly to the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban and placed wreaths on the portrait of her assassinated father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She broke into tears, when party Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury embraced her at the Bangbandhu Bhaban.

Later at about 2:32pm, Sheikh Hasina along with other leaders of the AL, surrounded by her supporters drove to her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi Road No 5, from where she was arrested in connection with a corruption case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury.

Witnesses said thousands of party workers showered flower petals and shouted welcome slogans as her car slowly moved towards Bangabandhu (Bhaban) Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi amid tight security.

"Jeler Tala Bhengechhi, Sheikh Hasina Ke Enechhi (We've broken the jail lock, brought out Hasina)," chanted her ardent followers.

Wearing off-white printed cotton Sari, a smiling Hasina waved to thousands of her supporters from the balcony of Sudha Sadan.

Sheikh Hasina has been suffering from acute problems with her ears and eyes following deadly grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on August 21, 2004.

Sources close to the negotiators, who brokered the deal of the former Prime Minister's release on parole, told The New Nation that Sheikh Hasina earned her temporary freedom as per a written agreement signed by her and senior AL leaders.

The conditions include an assurance from her that she would not issue any political or anti-government public statements at home and abroad, she would return home as per commitment, the AL would take part in the general elections as per the polls-roadmap, it would refrain from launching an anti-government agitation and she and her family would cooperate with the Bangladesh Missions abroad to know the progress of her medical treatment.

Besides, she has promised that the AL would refrain from demanding the release of its leaders, including her former Cabinet colleagues, who were already been convicted in graft cases, sources close to the AL mediators said.