Hasina's treatment abroad

We express our satisfaction over the government's initiative and court's ruling that will enable former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to go abroad for medical treatment, as recommended by her doctors.

That said, the regrettable truth of the matter is that the whole issue of medical treatment of detained top political leaders has been reduced to something of a farce, thanks to all kinds of theatrical dawdle and playing around. There is no doubt in any one's mind that Sheikh Hasina should have been allowed to go abroad for better treatment much earlier. The doctors have been warning for months that Sheikh Hasina might completely lose her hearing if there was any delay in the treatment of her ear complications. But the appeal, desperate that it was, could not elicit a favourable response from the government. It seems political gamesmanship was badly mixed up with an essentially humanitarian issue.

Now, the situation has changed rather dramatically with everything appearing to be all right as far as Hasina's expected trip abroad is concerned. It is really not at all clear how the heaps of obstacles, mostly procedural, that stood in her way, and were publicised so enthusiastically by the government functionaries, have disappeared all of a sudden! It is rather remarkable how all the pieces have fallen in place now while they didn't earlier on! Does it not smack of expediency or convenience? What message will it send to the observers eagerly watching the often baffling developments surrounding the health conditions of the arrested top political leaders? What impression does it create of our judiciary?

Khaleda Zia, the chief of BNP, has had to dismiss speculations about her going abroad for medical treatment. Similarly, there has been talk about Koko, Khaleda Zia's son being sent abroad. In all these instances, political expediency seems to have the last say. However, we find Khaleda Zia's sudden love for local treatment quite hypocritical. Her numerous visits for medical treatment abroad, especially Saudi Arabia, are neither lost on us nor on the people of the country.

Finally, the option of getting the best medical treatment that may include the option of going abroad should remain open to all detainees as it is a part of a citizen's fundamental right and a government's obligation to respect it.