Govt not forcing Khaleda to leave country: Matin

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An adviser to the interim government said that no restriction has been imposed on the movement, particularly to and from any foreign country, of the two former prime ministers — Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.
‘The government is neither planning to force Khaleda Zia out of the country nor has it restricted the return of Sheikh Hasina from the United States,’ the communications adviser, MA Matin, told reporters at his secretariat office on Tuesday. He was responding to questions whether or not the two top leaders would be forced to leave the country.
‘It is the personal matter of the BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, whether she will go abroad or not. The government is not pressuring her to do that,’ Matin said.
When asked whether the government would file any graft case against the two former premiers, the adviser, who is also the chairman of the national coordination committee against corruption and serious crimes, said, ‘There have been no allegations of corruption against them so far.’
He said there was no embargo either on Khaleda Zia or on her youngest son from leaving the country. Arafat Rahman, Tarique’s younger brother, was ‘picked up by joint forces and released after interrogation’.
‘There have no allegations of corruption so far against Hasina and Khaleda, so the government is not going to take any action against them at this moment,’ said Matin, who ruled out the rumours that the BNP chief along with her two sons would be forced into exile and the Awami League chief
would be barred from returning home.
When asked whether there was any understanding between the BNP chief and the government on Arafat’s fate, the adviser said, ‘Arafat was picked up as there were some allegations against him. He has been released after interrogation.’
When asked about the government’s stand on Tarique Rahman who is now in jail on an extortion charge, the communications adviser said the government would take measures as per the directives of the High Court. ‘Preparation of the charge-sheet against Tarique is in progress. There is no question that he will be released.’
Referring to media reports that Khaleda had agreed to leave the country as per the government’s demand, the adviser to the law, justice and parliamentary affairs, Mainul Hosein, told reporters that if anybody decides to leave the country in fear of jail and because the political situation here is not favourable, s/he may do so.
‘Forcing any leader to leave the country is not included in the ongoing reform programme of the government,’ he asserted.

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