Jalil flies to S’pore for treatment

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Ailing Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil was set to fly for Singapore for treatment at 11:55pm yesterday after being released from detention on a 30-day parole last night.

Jalil, a former minister, who had been undergoing treatment in LabAid Cardiac Hospital in the capital, was set free on parole around 7:30pm and taken straight to his Gulshan residence amid tight security under the supervision of jail authorities.

“I thank the government for allowing me to go abroad for treatment,” Jalil told waiting journalists immediately after he was taken out of his cabin in the hospital.

At the time of filing this report last night the authorities were getting ready to escort Jalil to the airport around 10:30pm to put him on board a Singapore bound flight. A three tier security detail was put in place at Zia International Airport last night, and another four tier security detail was put in place in and around Jalil’s Gulshan residence while no person except his immediate family was being allowed to enter the residence.

Abdul Jalil, a close associate of detained AL President Sheikh Hasina, has been suffering from heart and kidney problems compounded by diabetes. He will be admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and all expenses of his treatment will be borne by his family.

The ailing AL leader will be accompanied by his wife Rehana Jalil, to be followed by a number of party leaders within a couple of days, who intend to be by Jalil’s side in Singapore.

On May 28 of last year, the joint forces arrested Jalil from his Mercantile Bank office in Motijheel of the capital. He was in detention under Special Powers Act for more than six months. A case was filed against him on December 18 for concealing information in his wealth statement, but there has been little progress in the investigation.

The decision to release the AL general secretary on parole was taken at a special meeting of the council of advisers to the military backed caretaker government, held at the chief adviser’s office on Sunday, following a recommendation from a high-powered medical board formed for Jalil’s treatment.

JALIL BRIEFS JOURNOS
Around 7:30pm Jalil was brought out of his cabin in the hospital in a wheel chair.

Talking to the waiting reporters prior to leaving the hospital, Jalil, who seemed confident, said he and his family thank the government for allowing him to go abroad for better treatment.

Jalil also sought blessings from the people of the country.

“I once again seek blessings from all including the news media, colleagues, countrymen, party leaders and workers who prayed for me all along, so I may return after getting better,” Jalil said.

Earlier, senior AL leaders including Acting AL President Zillur Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed met Jalil in the hospital. A few leaders of different components in AL-led 14-party coalition also met Jalil in the hospital.

A number of AL leaders and workers also rushed to the hospital to have a quick look at their ailing leader, prior to his departure.

DOCTOR’S OBSERVATION
Talking to The Daily Star immediately after Jalil was taken to the ground floor of the hospital for transporting him to his residence, Dr Matiur Rahman, chief cardiologist of the hospital, said the condition of Jalil’s heart slightly improved, but his kidney’s condition did not while the level of haemoglobin in his blood was low with fluid trapped in his chest.

Jalil will have to be on a sugar free diet with low protein and low salt for the rest of his life, Dr Matiur added.

“If his kidney can be transplanted then there is a high possibility of being well for long term,” said the doctor confidently adding, if the kidney is transplanted then the condition of his heart will also improve and the level of haemoglobin will be increased.

The doctor also said Jalil’s diabetes was under control while he was leaving the cabin, but his blood pressure was fluctuating.

On Sunday, a special meeting of the cabinet constituted a five-member medical board with a view to parole the AL general secretary for treatment abroad, if recommended by the board.

After examining Jalil’s health from 3:30pm to 5:00pm the same day, the board concluded that the detained AL leader needs treatment in a hospital with advanced healthcare facilities.

The day before, a medical board of LabAid Cardiac Hospital said Jail needed to have a kidney transplant or be put on dialysis immediately. It also recommended taking him abroad for proper treatment.

Jalil has been ill since his arrest. Despite his critical condition over the past few days, the prisons authorities kept dismissing the call for sending him abroad for treatment. They reasoned that the jail code does not allow any prisoner to seek treatment overseas.

Jalil was first taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on June 4 of last year after complaining of chest pain following a court order extending his detention.

In a letter signed on July 2, he pleaded with the government to release him on humanitarian grounds, and said if necessary he would quit politics.

Since his arrest, five medical boards were constituted to monitor his health.

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