Jatiya Party’s ‘detained’ Chairman HM Ershad is passing his days quite normally at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
A visit to CMH on Wednesday found Ershad’s meals are being sent from President Park, his home, and the deposed dictator has also been taking regular morning walks.
He has been staying at the very first cabin on the second floor of the hospital’s officer’s ward. The door to the cabin bears the sign ‘no visitors allowed’.
It was visiting hours at CMH and upon seeing a man who was present near Ershad’s cabin this correspondent asked him his name.
File Photo
The man said he worked for a detective agency but refused to say which one.
He said he is ensuring security of the Jatiya Party chief at the hospital.
When asked if it was possible to see him, he said, “You can’t meet him now. He is sleeping. I can’t say when he will be up.”
No-one else was present in the corridor at that time.
When asked if Ershad’s doctor was present, he said, “His doctor isn’t here now. He finished his duty and left. You might ask me if you have inquiries.”
This correspondent asked after Ershad’s health to which the security official replied, “He is completely all right.”
“He walks for half an hour every morning. Then he eats his breakfast and reads the paper. He then has lunch and takes his rest. He stays inside his room most of the time.”
“He doesn’t eat hospital food, his meals come from President Park every day.”
When asked about the visitors Ershad has had so far, he said, “He has met Jatiya Party leaders in the first couple of days. But now only members of his family are allowed to see him.”
GM Quader, Ershad’s brother and Jatiya Party Presidium member, had been keeping regular tabs on him, the man added.
About the possibility of the Jatiya Party Chairman travelling outside the country, the security official said, “We have not heard anything like that yet. But he might be taken abroad anytime for treatment.”
The RAB escorted Ershad to CMH from his home in Baridhara at 11pm Thursday.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader initially denied the news of his being detained but next evening he claimed the party chief was being held for advocating an inclusive election.
RAB has however held that the ‘ailing’ Ershad was taken to CMH for treatment when he asked for help.
Source: Bd news24