B'desh govt may release Zia, Hasina but BNP leader defiant

Dhaka, June 9 (PTI) - Former premier Khaleda Zia Sunday refused to leave the country amid speculation that Bangladesh's military-backed government has decided to send her and arch-rival Sheikh Hasina abroad for "treatment" following intense pressure to release them. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B.N.P) and Awami League of former premier Hasina had demanded the release of their leaders, in jail since last year over graft charges, as a precondition to take part in a dialogue with the interim government ahead of planned general elections in December. "I will not go abroad for treatment in any way, I will undergo treatment at home," Zia told reporters as she appeared before a special court to attend the indictment hearing in a graft case. But Hasina's lawyers told reporters that the former premier agreed to go abroad for treatment for an ear injury she suffered in a 2004 grenade attack at a rally if the doctors formally advised her so. "Sheikh Hasina said she would go abroad as suggested by the medical board," her counsel said after talks with leader at another court where she appeared for a hearing in a corruption case. The development came amid media reports that the interim government in Bangladesh, which is under emergency rule since January last year, could send the top two leaders abroad for treatment. "The government has completed preliminary preparations to release the two former prime minister," mass-circulated the Prothom Alo newspaper said adding Zia's detained youngest son Arafat Rahman could also be released. PTI