Bangladesh News

The government yesterday further extended the time of parole granted to ailing Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil by one month to continue his treatment abroad.

This is the second extension of Jalil’s parole period after he was first granted an extension of 10 days on April 1.

Jalil is undergoing treatment for heart and kidney problems at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

A home ministry official said following a petition filed by Jalil the government extended the parole time “on humanitarian grounds for the sake of his treatment”.

The joint forces arrested Jalil on May 28 last year from his Mercantile Bank office in Motijheel. He was in detention under Special Powers Act for more than six months and has been ill since his arrest.

Jalil was first taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on June 4 after complaining of chest pain.

Later, he was shifted to LabAid Hospital but showed no noticeable improvement after months of treatment there. His family appealed with the government to take him abroad for treatment.

After a medical board also recommended sending Jalil abroad, the government decided on March 2 to set him free on a 30-day parole for overseas treatment. He was flown to Singapore the next day.

After the 30-day parole ended, Jalil’s family applied on April 1 for extending the time by three months but the home ministry approved a 10-day extension.

Five medical boards had been constituted to monitor Jalil’s health since his arrest.