The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former premiere Khaleda Zia asked her lawyers yesterdayto start legal procedures to secure bail in GATCO and Niko graft cases, lawyers said. After visiting Khaleda at the makeshift jail, her lawyer barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon told UNB that the BNP chairperson asked them to start the legal procedure for bail and it might take two to three days to complete the whole process.

Two lawyers, including Khokon, visited Khaleda at the sub jail on the Sangsad Bhaban premises to discuss bail issues and sought her permission to move the petitions.

Khaleda's counsels on Friday said that they would move to the High Court with petitions for bail.

Another counsel barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian after visiting Tarique at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) yesterday said that all documents were in their hands to file bail petitions today with a vacation bench of the High Court.

Last week, Khaleda secured interim bail in two other cases --- Zia orphangage trust embezzlement and Barapukuria coalmine scams.

Khaleda along with his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko was arrested on September 3 last year in connection with GATCO scam case. She has been behind bars since then pending trial.

All the cases have remained stalled following High Court orders on quashing petitions.

Koko is now free and receiving medical treatment abroad.

Khokon said Khaleda inquired about her elder son Tarique who is now being treated at the BSMMU when they met with her yesterday.

Quoting Khaleda, Khokon said that Tarique's medical treatment would be ensured abroad in line with the advices of the doctors.

Tarique was released from jail on Wednesday but doctors advised him to continue to stay at the hospital, as he has long been suffering from various complications.

He is likely to travel to London soon for better medical treatment.