Bangladesh News

Detained former prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday told her lawyers that the decision taken by her party’s grassroots leaders as well as the central working committee on political dialogue with the caretaker government is final.

The Awami League Central Working Committee, following an extended meeting with grassroots leaders, has decided not to take part in dialogue without party chief Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina’s top counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who met her at a sub-jail in the morning, told the news agency that the Awami League chief wants dialogue and quick holding of the parliamentary elections for transfer of power to elected representatives.

“A prolonged rule by a non-elected government aggravates sufferings of the people. Such rule cannot bring welfare for the people,” Shafique quoted Hasina as saying.

Barrister Shafique along with Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun discussed matters related to the Niko scam case filed against the former premier during the meeting that lasted for two hours and 45 minutes.

A special court set up in the parliament complex resumes today for hearing on charge-framing in the Niko case.

Earlier, the court had granted a defence petition for consultation with Hasina in connection with the case at the sub-jail.

Hasina firmly told her lawyers that she didn’t commit any offence by approving the draft agreement on gas exploration and extraction with the Canadian oil-company Niko under which the work didn’t even start. She had only approved a draft agreement based on opinion of an expert committee.

She instructed her lawyers to move bail petition in the Niko case, which is not tagged with the Emergency Power Rules that revokes right to seek bail.

Hasina, who is suffering from acute hearing and eye-vision problems, apprehended that her one ear and one eye might be damaged permanently if she is not treated abroad.

On December 9 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Hasina and other persons concerned.

On May 7, the ACC submitted charge sheet against Hasina and eight others to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka, showing 51 persons as prosecution witnesses. Later, the case was sent to the special court for trial.