The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamsuddin Ahmed

The nation has witnessed a high drama that culminated into release of Sheikh Hasina from the prison on Wednesday. Undergoing trial in four corruption cases she was set free for two months on medical ground for treatment abroad. In less than 24 hours she flew for Canada on Thursday morning. In a dramatic turn of events earlier on Wednesday night, four Advisors of the caretaker government drove to the residence of Hasina for political dialogue raising many eyebrows. For, about a dozen political parties including Gano Forum, Bikalpadhara, Workers Party and IOJ had dialogue at the office of Chief Adviser. The drama has not ended there. The government has offered to release from prison BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, also undergoing trial in corruption cases, to go abroad with her two sons under the similar arrangement, ostensibly on medical ground.

The events have no doubt generated lot of curiosity among the people and gave rise to all kinds of speculations. It was heard in tea stalls and drawing room gossips that the caretaker government fully backed by the armed forces has lost substantial ground. The power hollers differed on handling or mishandling of issues of Khaleda and Hasina that made BNP and Awami League adamant of not taking part in on-going political dialogue with the government nor taking part in the election. External pressure is there for holding election as promised by December with participation of all major political parties to make it credible and acceptable.

The situation has compelled the government to set Hasina free under a 'package deal'. Khaleda Zia is also being set free soon under similar deal for bringing both the parties to dialogue and the proposed election.

Explaining the situation Education Advisor Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the government attached highest humanitarian considerations for release of Hasina and Khaleda.

The considerations are aimed at creating an environment of confidence to involve all political parties in the on-going dialogue to reach consensus on national issues and peaceful transfer of power to the elected government.

"We are doingh whatever necessary and advancing specifically through making successful coordination of legal process and humanitarian considerations, without wasting time, to create environment of confidence among the political parties," said the Dr Zillur, who used to talk as spokesman of the government.

Soon after the release of Sheikh Hasina from prison at about 2pm Wednesday the government issued a statement offering release of Khaleda Zia under an identical package deal with BNP. Khaleda has always refused to leave the country. She is concerned about the condition of her ailing detained sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman.

The government is believed wooing Khaleda to make a petition in the court asking for her release for a certain period for treatment at home or abroad, a step Hasina had taken to secure release.

She was granted two months for treatment abroad. It is likely that Khaleda will finally agree for the sake of her sons and also BNP politics. For, after release of Sheikh Hasina, Awami League announced its preparation for contesting the election.

Government sources said the release of Sheikh Hasina was not unconditional. Nor the corruption cases against her were withdrawn. The court has granted her petition to exempt from personal appearance in the court during the trial that will continue. She is to return home and surrender to the court whenever the government asks. Similar arrangement will be taken in case of Khaleda Zia and her son.

The way and haste government took the steps clearly manifested that it has lost its strength. Political analysts have expressed surprise at the way Hasina and Khaleda allowed to make political statements from detention. Even their discussions with lawyers laced with politics were prominently dished out in electronic and print media. A former minister of Jatiya party speaking on TV said they did not make public noise when President Ershad was arrested nor demanded his release when undergoing trial in more than dozens of cases.

Ershad was never allowed by the court to make any statement. Former minister Taheruddin Thakur and once powerful military officers accused in the Sheikh Mujib murder case were not allowed to make any statement in the court. Why Hasina and Khaleda were extended the unprecedented favour remains a question.

Hasina has been set free for 8 weeks and allowed to go abroad. In all probability similar arrangement will be taken in case of Khaleda and her two sons. Once they are free, will this government be able to bring them back to the dock for trial on charge of heavy corruption for which they were kept in prison for about a year?