Archive for June 12th, 2008
Thursday, June 12th, 2008Amid a rapturous welcome from thousands of party activists, supporters and leaders, former premier, also Awami League (AL) President, Sheikh Hasina was released yesterday from detention on parole for two months with permission to go abroad 'for better treatment'.Late last night, during a closed door meeting with four advisers to the military backed caretaker government at her Sudha Sadan residence, Hasina called Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and urged him to prepare for the stalled elections as quickly as possible.AL, one of the oldest and largest political parties in the country, had been demanding its chief's release as the precondition ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008The release of Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina is one of the major steps taken by this government to prepare the stage for an election acceptable to the nation, said highly placed sources in the government.This also reinforces the government's commitment to hold the national election in December this year, the sources noted.The former prime minister has been released considering a number of factors including the need for sending her to US for treatment of ear.But more importantly, the government was unable to overcome the stagnation over election preparatory dialogues with political parties -- specially with the ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008Detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday expressed satisfaction over the release of her once arch rival Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, her lawyers say.She expressed happiness when the lawyers met her at the makeshift jail during an interrogation by the officials of the Taskforce and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).The lawyers add she was, however, surprised at her sons -- Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko -- not being allowed to receive treatment abroad.Taskforce officer Maj Redwan Ahmed and ACC Assistant Director Nur Ahmed along with the lawyers went to Khaleda to enquire about the alleged misappropriation of the Zia ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday returned to Sudha Sadan upon her release, where she was arrested 11 months ago in connection with an extortion case.The former prime minister had her name as accused in 14 cases as she left the sub-jail on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises. She had been detained there since her arrest on July 16 last year.Businessman Azam J Chowdhury filed the case with Gulshan Police Station on June 13, 2007, accusing the AL chief of extorting, with others, Tk 2.96 crore from him for the installation of a 210-megawatt power plant at Siddhirganj.Hasina faced ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008Charges were finally pressed yesterday in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case against 22 persons including top Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu.The development came after years of drama during the rule of coalition government led by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami over investigation into the grisly attacks on an Awami League (AL) rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004.The top brass of the then government had even said that the attack was not meant to kill AL chief Sheikh Hasina.Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have, however, found now that ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008The government notification ordering temporary release of detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that the parole granted to the former prime minister might be cancelled any time without showing any reason.The notification, signed by deputy secretary of the home ministry Md Mizanur Rahman, was issued at around noon following a meeting of IG Prisons Brig Gen Md Zakir Hasan with Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin at the Secretariat.“Following recommendations of a medical board, the government has released former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on parole for eight weeks starting from June 11 as per the ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008The government is giving high priority to decisions regarding the possible release of former premier Khaleda Zia's detained sons, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, on 'humanitarian' grounds.“We are placing highest priority to the humanitarian consideration and legal processes attached to these cases,” Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said at a press briefing yesterday.“We want to gain the trust of all parties to take this process forward,” he added.“We are fully prepared to discuss Khaleda and her sons' demands,” Zillur said after a dialogue with Unity for Political Reforms (UPR) at the Chief Adviser's Office.UPR, led by its convener ASM ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina was yesterday seen to give the cold shoulder to some of her party leaders who had opposed her in different forums inside the party.The former prime minister exchanged pleasantries with other party leaders as she entered her Sudha Sadan residence at around 2.30pm after being released from a sub-jail.On entering the Sudha Sadan residence, the former premier embraced Motia Chowdhury, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and was seen to exchange words with acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and some others.Hasina was also seen talking to AL's acting president Zillur Rahman intimately.The AL chief ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008The Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked the government to create a congenial atmosphere for holding local government elections from July amid the state of emergency.Prior to leave for a meeting with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said EC does not want to embarrass the government by asking it to lift the state of emergency."We want a congenial atmosphere for holding the polls. It depends on the government whether it will lift or relax the restrictions to ensure the atmosphere. But we'll not remain silent if the congenial atmosphere is not created," CEC Huda told ...
(read more) Thursday, June 12th, 2008The government will take appropriate steps for the proper treatment of detained former premier Khaleda Zia “at home or abroad” through a coordinated legal process, a government announcement said yesterday.The assurance came shortly after another detained ex-premier, Sheikh Hasina, was released by an executive order for an interim period for a trip abroad on medical grounds.Sheikh Hasina's family appealed for permission to take her abroad for treatment in March.On June 5, the government formed a medical board for a needs assessment in order to provide her with better treatment.“The government has always been conscious about the health complications of ...
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