(June 15, Dhaka, Sri Lanka Guardian) Bangladesh's caretaker government has said a process was underway to workout ways to release detained former premier Khaleda Zia, days after her arch rival Sheikh Hasina was freed for treatment abroad.
"It (Zia's release) cannot be done overnight. But we are in the final phase of her release process," said Education Adviser of the emergency-ruled interim government.
Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters in Dhaka on Saturday said the government had released Hasina on a humanitarian ground following all the legal processes while it was considering the same process for setting free Zia.
The two former prime ministers were detained on corruption charges as part of a massive anti-graft campaign spearheaded by the interim government since its installation with crucial military supports in 2007.
Parties of both the leaders earlier declined to join a crucial political dialogue with the government to discuss ways for the transition to democracy unless their top leaders were released as the general election was planned for December this year.
Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), however, was unwilling to appeal to the government for her release for treatment abroad expecting the government to act on its own to free her without attaching any strings.
`No petition should be needed for her (Zia's) release. We will however follow anything she suggests," BNP secretary general Khondokar Delwar Hossain told a party meeting on Saturday.
`Everyone believes that this government has been detaining her in cases filed for political reasons. Now it is their responsibility to decide which process to follow for her release."
Zia's two daughters-in-law, however, separately appealed to the government for release of their ailing husbands Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, also detained on graft and criminal charges, for better treatment abroad on humanitarian ground.
The government earlier said Hasina was released on a petition by her party and recommendation of a medical board to allow her for treatment for critical hearing impairment.
Party sources said Awami League on Saturday finalised a nine-member delegation led by its Acting President Zillur Rahman for the ongoing dialogues between the government and political parties while four advisers of the interim cabinet already held a meeting with Hasina ahead of her departure for the United States on Thursday.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
"It (Zia's release) cannot be done overnight. But we are in the final phase of her release process," said Education Adviser of the emergency-ruled interim government.
Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters in Dhaka on Saturday said the government had released Hasina on a humanitarian ground following all the legal processes while it was considering the same process for setting free Zia.
The two former prime ministers were detained on corruption charges as part of a massive anti-graft campaign spearheaded by the interim government since its installation with crucial military supports in 2007.
Parties of both the leaders earlier declined to join a crucial political dialogue with the government to discuss ways for the transition to democracy unless their top leaders were released as the general election was planned for December this year.
Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), however, was unwilling to appeal to the government for her release for treatment abroad expecting the government to act on its own to free her without attaching any strings.
`No petition should be needed for her (Zia's) release. We will however follow anything she suggests," BNP secretary general Khondokar Delwar Hossain told a party meeting on Saturday.
`Everyone believes that this government has been detaining her in cases filed for political reasons. Now it is their responsibility to decide which process to follow for her release."
Zia's two daughters-in-law, however, separately appealed to the government for release of their ailing husbands Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, also detained on graft and criminal charges, for better treatment abroad on humanitarian ground.
The government earlier said Hasina was released on a petition by her party and recommendation of a medical board to allow her for treatment for critical hearing impairment.
Party sources said Awami League on Saturday finalised a nine-member delegation led by its Acting President Zillur Rahman for the ongoing dialogues between the government and political parties while four advisers of the interim cabinet already held a meeting with Hasina ahead of her departure for the United States on Thursday.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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