By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Detained Bangladesh former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was released here Wednesday for interim period of two months to enable her medical treatment abroad following an executive order issued by the government.
Hasina who ruled the country as prime minister (1996-2001) was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with a corruption case during the anti-corruption crackdown by the incumbent caretaker government.
She was released Wednesday afternoon for two months till Aug. 6from a makeshift jail in highly secured parliament building complex where another former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, has been detained on corruption charges.
Witnesses said thousands of people and party workers gathered around the parliament building complex greeting Hasina who drove straight to her residence at Dhanmondi in Dhaka amidst tight security.
She is likely to fly for London Thursday enroute to the United States and Canada for her treatment to damaged ears and eyes.
Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed of the Bangladesh caretaker government Tuesday night signed the executive order for her release.
Hasina, 61, has been suffering from acute problems to her eyes and ears following deadly grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on Aug. 21, 2004.
A medical board set up by the government advised her treatment abroad as her hearing aid became dysfunctional.
After the grenade blasts from which Hasina narrowly escaped, she went to the United States for treatment to her damaged ears.
The order says the government decided to release Sheikh Hasina for an interim period of two months from June 11 to Aug. 6 for medical treatment abroad following recommendations by a medical board.
It says the government can cancel the order any time without assigning any reason.
Hasina, who also led one of the country’s two major parties Awami League, is facing 15 corruption and extortion cases and facing trial in four corruption cases.
On Monday, special courts exempted her from attendance in courts during trial proceedings in the four corruption cases following applications from her lawyers.