Editorial
Jalil on parole
His medical treatment should leave nothing to be desired
BY the time this comment appears ailing Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil will have been receiving treatment in a Singapore hospital. We are relieved at the news of parole being granted for his treatment abroad at a rather critical phase of his health condition requiring dialysis leading to possibly kidney transplantation. He has had multiple health problems for a long time.
At long last, the government has acknowledged the anxiety of the medical specialists for his health and we hope and pray that he would return from Singapore in good health. Receiving healthcare, let alone life saving medical attention, is basic right of citizens including detainees. As a matter of fact, the weal and woe of prisoners in custody are the responsibility of the custodian and it is always better that authorities take decision for medical intervention at the right time whether in the country or outside it.
There are other high profile detainues like Sheikh Hasina and Begum Zia whose heath conditions have been subject matter of concern. Begum Zia's two sons have been treated in hospital. Medical team attending on Sheikh Hasina has advised for her treatment in the USA. The government may be required to take a policy decision on such issues.
At the other pole, there have been reports of high profile prisoners allegedly staying in hospitals for long without good reasons.
The air is rife with speculations about the health conditions of various politicians detained mostly on charges of corruption and abuse of power. In such a context, it would be in the fitness of things for the government to update the people on the health conditions of the ailing high profile prisoners.
There is little doubt that the jail houses are far too crammed with prisoners and its medical resources are also too thinly spread out, so that despite best efforts and intention, the authorities are hard put to provide specialised medicare to those who are in dire need for it. We cannot ignore the medicare needs of ordinary prisoners as well; so, an improvement and re-equipment of the jail hospitals is called for. But the government would do better to take the overall constraints into account, especially when the high profile detainees are mostly elderly people. Some policy adjustment in the jail code may be necessary to ensure that those who need critical medical support is given it.
Need we say, the judicial process will have to be completed, sooner than later?
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