By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Special courts in Bangladesh Monday exempted detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from personal appearance during trial proceedings in four corruption cases, clearing the way for her treatment abroad.
Hasina, who ruled the country as prime minister from 1996 to 2001, has been suffering acute eyes and ears problems.
The hearing problem was caused by grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on Aug. 21, 2004. Earlier, she received treatment of her ears in the United States.
A medical board set up by the government recently advised her treatment abroad as her hearing aid became dysfunctional.
Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case during anti-corruption crackdown by the current caretaker government installed on Jan. 12, 2007.
She is now facing 15 corruption and extortion cases and trial in four corruption cases.
Four courts in Dhaka Monday exempted her personal appearance during the trial proceedings in the four corruption cases.
According to the court orders, Hasina’s lawyers would represent her during the trial in all the four cases.
Besides, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court Monday separately ordered the government to return Hasina’s passports, seized when she was arrested last year.
Today’s courts orders cleared the way for Hasina’s travel abroad for treatment.
Hasina’s lawyer Barrister Shafique Ahmed said an executive order will be needed from the government to confirm her travel abroad.
He said if the government issues the order, Hasina may leave the country any time either for the United States or Canada for medical treatment.
Her party, the Awami League, one of the country’s two major parties, has been demanding for long to release Hasina unconditionally as a pre-condition to join the pre-election political dialogue with the government.
Another detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia, also president of another major party the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), denied Sunday she would go abroad, saying that she would have medical treatment at home if necessary.
The BNP also demanded release of its leader Khaleda as a pre-condition to join the pre-election political dialogue with the government.