Salahuddin’s freedom delayed due to ill health

SHILLONG: It will be a long wait for the arrested ex-Minister of Bangladesh Salahuddin Ahmed before he gets out of Meghalaya as his adverse health condition has delayed the legal process for his release.
Ahmed, who was lodged at Civil Hospital since Tuesday after his arrest on the previous day, is yet to be produced before the Court due to his adverse health condition. Since Saturday and Sunday being holidays, he is likely to be produced sometime next week. Meghalaya police has already intimated to the Court the inability to produce him as he is unwell.
For the second time, the Assistant Office Secretary of BNP, Central Committee Jony  Abdul Latif met Ahmed on Friday at Civil Hospital and conveyed to the media that he needs better medical treatment at Singapore where he used to go for regular health check up to cure his kidney ailment and heart disease as infrastructure facilities in this regard  are not available in  Shillong Civil Hospital .
“He seems to be weak and is not sleeping well due to his heart disease and his ailment related to kidney”, Jony said.
The BNP functionary said that he and his family members will approach the authorities concerned for his treatment outside India. They are in touch with some senior local lawyers here to take up the matter with the Court.
However, the delay in the arrival of Ahmed’s wife since she is yet to get Indian visa will be a hurdle for taking any decision to file an appeal before the Court to  shift Ahmed outside the country for medical treatment.
Moreover, early release of Ahmed is unlikely since the case is related to violation of Foreigner’s Act as he did not possess valid travel documents while entering India.
Legal experts said that the Court may send him first to judicial custody which means that he has to serve the sentence in jail to be pronounced by the Court. The imprisonment varies from three to six months.