Zia's ailing son released on bail By Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Sept 4 (PTI) - Tarique Rahman, former Bangladesh
Premier Khaleda Zia's influential elder son and political
heir, was Wednesday released on bail on medical grounds, more
than 18 months after he was detained over a series of graft
cases.

43-year-old Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary of Zia's
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B.N.P.), was released in line
with a court order, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons
Shamsul Haidar Siddiqui said.

The ailing B.N.P. leader, who was admitted to the
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University while under
custody, will remain at the hospital for some time for the
treatment of his injured spinal cord.

He is expected to fly to London and then may visit
Germany for further treatment, according to family sources of
Zia who is also under detention on corruption charges.

Rahman's doctors had said recently that he was almost
partially paralysed and needed to go abroad for treatment
immediately.

Several hundred activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Wednesday crowded the hospital where he was being treated, but
police did not allow anyone to see him for security and
medical reasons, witnesses said.

Rahman's lawyers alleged that procedural delays lingered
his release, which was expected yesterday. He had obtained
bail in all 12 graft or criminal cases he faces.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court earlier
refused to accept a government appeal seeking to stay the High
Court order granting him bail paving his temporary release.

Rahman was detained in March last year as part of a
massive anti-graft campaign launched by the interim government
of emergency-ruled Bangladesh soon after its installation with
crucial military support.

His mother and younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko too
were held later as part of the crackdown against corruption.

Koko was freed on bail last month on a High Court order
and was sent to Thailand where he is being treated for
respiratory problems.

The government earlier released on an "executive order"
another former premier Sheikh Hasina of Awami League party for
treatment in the US after courts exempted her from personal
appearance in the graft cases.

However, the B.N.P. said they wanted their leader Zia be
freed on a court ruling instead of a government order. PTI AR