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Download PDF Ten out of the 62 political leaders who are considered important prisoners and have been granted divisions in jail remain admitted to hospitals for different medical conditions.
Many of them continue to stay in the hospitals just to avoid jail. They are in fact living a life of luxury when in the first place they are not sick enough to be there, said jail sources.
General Secretary of Awami League (AL) Abdul Jalil, AL presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Kazi Zafrullah, AL Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas, ex-state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, former BNP lawmakers Abu Taher and Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu are the ones undergoing treatment, said jail sources.
The jail authorities confirmed that except Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Mirza Abbas, all are taking treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury is at Ibrahim Memorial Cardiac Hospital and Mirza Abbas at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka.
The government bears the medical expenses at the BSSMU but for treatment at the other hospitals the prisoners must dig into their own purse.
The Apollo Hospitals sources said that Mirza Abbas has been staying at a deluxe cabin since June 16. The rent is Tk 7,500 a day.
Besides, there are expenses for medicine and tests and doctors, said a billing section staffer.
Mirza Abbas has already paid around Tk 1,65,000 only in bed rent. The total amount spent would add up to an even higher figure if inclusive of the other costs.
During a recent visit to the Apollo Hospitals, the Star correspondent found three policemen standing guard in front of Mirza Abbas’ cabin. However, none of them, two from the jail and one from the concerned police station, could say anything about his condition.
An insider said Abbas has pulled himself through and could easily leave the hospital now. But the hospital authorities kept mum when asked about the former minister’s condition.
“We cannot say anything about him as his status is of a prisoner’s,” said Giasuddin, the general manager (media) of the hospital.
Contacted, the jail officials maintained that Abbas was still sick.
“He has kidney problems. I visited him the day before yesterday and found him sick,” said Deputy Inspector General (DIG-prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui.
Sources said that Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury is reluctant to receive treatment from local physicians and wants to go abroad. The government is examining his papers to decide if he should be allowed treatment outside the country. The former parliamentary affairs adviser to the prime minister has a heart condition.
Queried about the possibility of detained politicians being sent abroad for treatment, Shamsul Haider said the decision rests with the government and he does not have any idea if anyone would be sent or not.
UNB adds: So far 62 important prisoners, arrested on graft charges, have been given division considering their social status under the jail code, Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan said yesterday.
Among them are former ministers, former lawmakers, bureaucrats and businessmen.
Talking to the reporters, the IG (prisons) said many of these prisoners are down with various health complications and the jail authorities are taking care of them.
DIG (prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told the news agency that 150-200 senior politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats have been rounded up since the caretaker government launched its drive against corruption in January.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Under pressure politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats are now needs constant medical treatment while the caretaker governments ongoing massive drive against the corruption. According to the reports and news it seems the caretaker government needs to provide them with special place for them rather kept in Jail. Most of them were fine and healthy while out side calling the people for destruction to the country and some were visiting abroad for political help without any medical treatment but now treatments are essential. What a joke!