Former Bangladesh PM freed from detention

Updated June 11, 2008 22:23:55

Former Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, has been released after almost a year in detention. [AFP]

The former Bangladesh prime minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, has been freed from detention on corruption charges.

The leader of the Awami League party, who has been held for almost a year, is to leave the country early Thursday for the United States, for medical treatment.

Sheikh Hasina left her jail in a heavily-guarded vehicle, and was greeted by thousands of supporters gathered outside.

Many tossed flowers onto the vehicle, forcing the motorcade to slow to a crawl as it made its way through the crowds.

In a surprise move Monday, Bangladesh's emergency army-backed government gave permission for Sheikh Hasina, who led the country from 1996 to 2001, to be released.

However, the government is leaving the corruption charges in place, and she is to be tried in her absence.

The move is being seen as part of government efforts for an agreement between the Awami League and the country's other main party, the BNP.

Both parties have refused to hold talks to plan for an election at the end of the year because both of their leaders, Sheikh Hasina and the BNP leader Khaleda Zia, were detained.

December polls?

Sheikh Hasina's secretary Hasan Mahmud has told the AFP news agency she will leave for the United States, via London, on Thursday morning.

And Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has hinted the party could then go into talks with the government and participate in polls.

"I hope the political uncertainty will be over now," he said.

"I hope the Awami League will go to the polls in December."

Newspaper reports say the government is also preparing to release Khaleda Zia, but the two-time former prime minister is refusing to leave Bangladesh, saying she prefers to be treated for her acute arthritis and knee problems at home.

The BNP and the Awami League leaders have been blamed for the political paralysis and unrest that led to the imposition of a state of emergency and formation of an army-backed authority in January 2007.