The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former Home Minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim's son yesterday appealed to the Chief Adviser for his father's treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore as he has suffered a stroke.

In his application, Tanvir Shohel Joy said, "My father has suffered a brain stroke in jail and he needs immediate treatment abroad."

Official sources told UNB that the government could consider the application and Nasim might be temporarily released on medical grounds.

His release may be provided under Section 401 sub-section(1) of the CrPC and under sub-section of 4(A) of Section 401 of the CrPC.

Under section 401 sub-section(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) conviction of a person could be suspended on medical grounds.

And an accused could be exempted from personnel attendance to trial court in a case under sub-section of 4(A) of Section 401 of the CrPc.

Nasim, serving a 13-year jail term in a graft case, was admitted to LabAid hospital Tuesday as doctors after primary diagnosis said he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.

He was first brought to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from Kashimpur jail as he complained of feeling weak on his left side. After primary diagnosis, doctors sent him to the LabAid specialized hospital.

A six-member medical board was constituted for his treatment. Board members are Prof Sirajul Huq, Prof Faizul Islam, Cardiologist Barun Chakroborty and Dr Shahriar Saber of BSMMU and Asst Prof Kanak Kanti Barua and Asst Prof Abu Naser Rijvi of LabAid.

On October 8 last year, Nasim was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in a graft case while his wife Laila Arzumand Banu, tried in absentia, also jailed for three years for aiding and abetting her husband in acquiring wealth by dishonest means.

On March 21 in 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Nasim, a frontline leader of the Awami League, and his wife with Dhanmondi police station for furnishing "false information" in their wealth statements submitted to the ACC.

He was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence by joint forces on February 3 on charges of corruption, amid a clampdown on former ruling politicians under a countrywide purge in the interim period against serious crime and corruption.

In the meantime, his party general secretary Abdul Jalil also has been under treatment at the same Singaporean hospital following his release from jail on parole.

Also, Awami League chief and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, also arrested under the anti-graft drive, recently went to the United States for treatment on her interim release from prison.

Sending another detained former premier, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her two detained sons abroad for treatment has also been talk of the town for quite some time now.

Her reported refusal to go abroad is said to be the reason for delays in their case.

Meanwhile, her ailing younger son Arafat Rahman Koko was yesterday exempted from personal appearance in a special court for trial in the GATCO graft case. Similar exemption petition of his elder, Tarique Rahman, was also moved today.

The exemption is seen as part of the process of their overseas treatment.