Mystery shrouds Zia's departure to Saudi Arabia

Dhaka, Apr 17 (UNI) Amidst conflicting reports and speculations shrouding the 'imminent departure' of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to Saudi Arabia, close relatives today met her at her Dhaka cantonment residence.

Journalists have been keeping a close watch on flights bound for Saudi Arabia from Dhaka while many rushed to the Zia International Airport this evening so they did not miss the event.

Sources close to the Zia family said Begum Zia and members of her family, bar Tarique Rahman, now in custody in connection with an extortion case, might leave Dhaka by April 22.

A diplomatic source said it might take six days to complete official formalities with the Saudi government and make arrangements for the beleaguered former ruler's stay in Jeddah for an extended period.

Begum Zia, the widow of slain President Ziaur Rahman, would be accompanied by her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco, his wife and two kids and Tarique's wife and children sources said, adding that her family members have been making initial preparations for the departure.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina presently in Virginia, US is planning to return to Dhaka on April 23. Two cases of extortion and murder were filed against Hasina during her absence and the leader wants to return to face the cases in the court of law.

It is still premature to ascertain whether Hasina will return on schedule or change her travel plans if her arch rival Khaleda leaves for Saudi Arabia by April 23.

Local newspaper reports indicate that the current military backed interim government wants both Khaleda and Hasina, blamed for corruption and political unrest for years, to stay away from the country in order to enable the government to bring about political reforms ahead of the general elections.

The political rivalry between the two ladies led to the promulgation of the state of emergency on January 12. The Emergency rules also led to the postponement of the elections earlier scheduled on January 22 for an indefinite period.

In a nationwide address on April 12, the Caretaker government's Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said elections would be held before the end of 2008 to elect a representative government. The caretaker, now engaged in a war on corruption, has been taking various reforms to ensure that honest and efficient people could be elected to the next parliament.

UNI