Bangladesh News

In a latest development, a Dhaka Court yesterday directed the government to return the passport of detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina to its owner, who has been undergoing treatment in Square Hospital in the capital.

A new panel of seven physicians of the hospital was also formed yesterday for Hasina’s medical check-up, who already started her medical tests.

Hasina’s two personal physicians, ophthalmologist Dr Modasser Ali and medicine specialist Dr ABM Abdullah, who had been examining her health for the last couple of months and had been allowed frequently to enter the special jail, were not allowed to see the former premier in the hospital yesterday.

Meanwhile, a negotiation is reportedly going on between the government and her family behind the curtain in a bid to settle amicably the terms and conditions of Hasina’s release from detention, for treatment in the US.

AL leader also a counsel of Hasina, Advocate Shahara Khatun, yesterday filed a petition with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka seeking immediate release of Hasina’s passport. In the petition, Shahara said Hasina’s passport, which had been seized by the joint forces on July 16 last year immediately after her arrest from her Sudha Sadan residence, might be needed any time for her trip abroad for treatment. “So the passport is needed,” said Shahara in her petition.

After hearing the petition, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Rabbani ordered the authorities concerned to return the passport to its owner.

Source said the government is considering Hasina’s release on parole for treatment. While on parole, the AL chief will have to comply with certain conditions which include not getting involved in any political or business activity, and not contacting any organisation or individual for any reason other than her treatment.

Hasina and her party AL want her release on bail. Sources close to the negotiation told The Daily Star last night that the negotiation is likely to produce a result within the next 48 hours and the government might end up allowing the AL chief to fly to the US either on the 17th or the 19th of this month.

PERSONAL DOCS BARRED FROM SEEING HASINA
When Dr Modasser Ali and Dr ABM Abdullah went to the hospital to check Hasina’s health, security personnel posted to ensure AL chief’s security, did not allow them to enter. They waited in the hospital for about an hour and a half and left.

The security personnel told Hasina’s personal doctors that none other than the doctors in the Square Hospital panel would be allowed to see her.

Meanwhile, being obstructed by the security personnel, both Modasser and Abdullah questioned why they were not being allowed to examine their patient as she had been admitted to the hospital on their advice.

“We don’t know why we were not allowed to see our patient since we had been seeing her in the jail,” Abdullah told The Daily Star. He said they contacted Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui over the phone while in the hospital to know the reason behind the restriction.

Talking to The Daily Star Maj Siddiqui said normally access to any detainee is restricted. “If necessary, personal physicians will be brought in again soon,” he said.

Asked whether the AL chief will be brought to the special court today in connection with a case against her, Maj Siddiqui said it will depend on the doctors’ advice.

But sources said the government’s high ups became unhappy with Hasina’s personal physicians’ formation of a medical board and their recommendation for sending her to the US for her ear treatment, without conducting any test. For that reason the jail authorities restricted Hasina’s personal physicians’ access to her.

NEW MEDICAL TEAM
Prof Sanawar Hossain, director of medical services and consultant surgery at Square Hospital, told reporters that a medical panel of seven physicians of the hospital was formed for Hasina’s check-up there under his leadership.

Other doctors are Dr Touhiduzzaman, Dr Sarwar Alam, Dr Shahil Mahmud, Dr Shah Alam, Dr Mirza Nazimuddin, and Dr MH Millat.

Prof Sanawar said the AL chief’s treatment has not begun yet. Only tests are being done, he said adding, as she had not undergone any test over the last several months, she needs some medical tests done.

He said her pathological tests began yesterday with blood and urine tests already being done.

An ultra-sonogram will be performed on her today, he said adding that it will take at least 7 to 8 days to complete the tests.

He however said it is not possible to re-adjust in Square Hospital the function of the AL chief’s hearing aid.

The doctor said Hasina told them that she was feeling better and had a sound sleep the night before.

Asked if doctors from outside are barred from examining Hasina, he replied, “There is no restriction from the Hospital, if there is no restriction from the government.”

Hasina was admitted to Square Hospital on Tuesday where a panel of seven medical specialists, Prof Mohammad Abu Tahir, Prof Tofail Ahmed, Prof Pran Gopal Dutta, Prof Modasser Ali, Prof MU Kabir Chowdhury, Dr ABM Abdullah, and Dr MH Millat, unanimously recommended to send her to the US for treatment of hearing loss.

Besides acute ear problems, Hasina has been suffering from allergy and high blood pressure.

AL’S LETTER TO CA
Meanwhile, AL yesterday sent a letter to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed calling upon him to take necessary steps immediately to release its chief unconditionally, so she can go to the US for treatment.

The letter signed by Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam also said all party supporters, workers, leaders, and the people of the country are worried about the health of the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

AL Presidium, the highest policy making body of the party, at a meeting on Tuesday decided to send the letter to the chief adviser.

Leaders of AL at a news briefing in Hasina’s political office in Dhanmondi yesterday told journalists that they were harassed for hours in the office of the head of government when they went to hand over the letter there.

Syed Ashraful Islam tried to talk to any of the responsible persons in the office, but found none over the phone.

At the briefing, AL leaders expressed their astonishment and protested the incident.

“We did not expect that no one would be in the chief adviser’s office immediately after his departure for abroad,” said AL leader Abdul Mannan Khan.

“We tried to reach the principal secretary, personal secretary, assistant personal secretary, and the director of administration in the Office of the Chief Adviser, but none of them was in the office,” said AL leader Asim Kumar Ukil.

The AL leaders finally contacted Additional Secretary Mostafa Kamal Haider who asked one of the office staff to tell the AL leaders to leave the letter at the gate.

Later, Khairul Islam, a stenographer, received the letter from the leaders of one of the most major political parties in the country.