Sheikh Hasina released from prison

Dhaka, Jun 11 (PTI) - Detained former Bangladeshi prime
minister Sheikh Hasina was on Wednesday released from a makeshift prison after the interim government issued an executive order for her treatment abroad.

Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hassan said she was released for eight weeks for treatment abroad on an executive order.

The Awami League leader immediately headed towards Sudha Sadan home under heavy security cover. Party workers gathered in strength outside the makeshift prison inside the parliament complex.

Hassina is expected to leave for the US for better medical treatment on Thursday.

The ex-premier's lawyer Fazle Noor Taposh had said that she may not preside over any party meeting before leaving the country.

Hasina has been in detention for 11 months since her arrest on graft charges on July 16 last year.

Taposh said Hasina got a visa for Canada on Monday while she already had visas for the United States and the UK on her passport, which the authorities returned to her two days ago on a court order.

She will undergo treatment in Orlando of the United States for her hearing impairment and eyes and then later go to Canada to visit her expatriate daughter.