Bangladesh's army-backed emergency government is preparing to free former premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed from detention on corruption charges, her lawyer said on Monday. Sheikh Hasina, who led the country from 1996 to 2001 and heads the Awami League Party, is expected to be allowed to travel to the United States for medical treatment for ear and eye problems, said Kamrul Islam. "The government is going to free her on an administrative order. This morning we have applied to the court seeking the immediate return of her passport," the lawyer said. Thousands of supporters of Sheikh Hasina's party have been gathering since late Sunday along roads leading to the national parliament, where she has been detained, amid speculation of her imminent release. The country's newspapers on Sunday said the emergency government would free both Sheikh Hasina and her bitter rival and two-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia to allow them both to go abroad for medical treatment. Reports said the women were visited by doctors several days ago, and were found to be suffering from conditions that require treatment overseas. Sheikh Hasina's doctor Syed Mudassir Ali said she has serious eye and ear problems and needs to be treated in the US. But Zia told her lawyers on Sunday that she would rather stay at home to treat her acute arthritis and knee problems within Bangladesh. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the opposition Awami League have been blamed for the political paralysis and unrest that led to the imposition of a state of emergency and formation of an army-backed authority in January 2007. The interim government has since detained the two women, as well as tried to force them into exile as part of an effort to clean up the country's notoriously dysfunctional political system. At the same time, the government is trying to hold talks with the BNP and the Awami League on restoring democracy by the end of the year. Both parties say they are boycotting the talks unless their leaders are freed.
Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to be freed soon: Lawyer
Bangladesh's army-backed emergency government is preparing to free former premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed from detention on corruption charges, her lawyer said on Monday. Sheikh Hasina, who led the country from 1996 to 2001 and heads the Awami League Party, is expected to be allowed to travel to the United States for medical treatment for ear and eye problems, said Kamrul Islam. "The government is going to free her on an administrative order. This morning we have applied to the court seeking the immediate return of her passport," the lawyer said. Thousands of supporters of Sheikh Hasina's party have been gathering since late Sunday along roads leading to the national parliament, where she has been detained, amid speculation of her imminent release. The country's newspapers on Sunday said the emergency government would free both Sheikh Hasina and her bitter rival and two-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia to allow them both to go abroad for medical treatment. Reports said the women were visited by doctors several days ago, and were found to be suffering from conditions that require treatment overseas. Sheikh Hasina's doctor Syed Mudassir Ali said she has serious eye and ear problems and needs to be treated in the US. But Zia told her lawyers on Sunday that she would rather stay at home to treat her acute arthritis and knee problems within Bangladesh. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the opposition Awami League have been blamed for the political paralysis and unrest that led to the imposition of a state of emergency and formation of an army-backed authority in January 2007. The interim government has since detained the two women, as well as tried to force them into exile as part of an effort to clean up the country's notoriously dysfunctional political system. At the same time, the government is trying to hold talks with the BNP and the Awami League on restoring democracy by the end of the year. Both parties say they are boycotting the talks unless their leaders are freed.
