UNB, Dhaka :Sajeda Mannan, wife of detained Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Mayor MA Mannan, on Saturday demanded the release of her ailing husband to ensure his batter treatment abroad.”My husband has long been suffering from various diseases, including heart, kidney and diabetics. His condition has now turned critical following the torture on him in repeated policeremands. It’ s necessary to provide him with better treatment taking abroad right now. I demand his release on humanitarian ground,” she said. Sajeda made the demand at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club. Mannan, also an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was arrested from his Baridhara residence on February 11 this year.On August 19, the government suspended him from the post of GCC mayor as he has been charged with criminal offences. Sajeda alleged that 11 ‘false and baseless’ cases were filed against her husband in connection with subversive acts carried out during the BNP-led 20-party’s anti-government movement. “He was suspended for being charged with those fabricated cases. It’s a government’s heinous decision which stunned the 50 lakh people of Gazipur city.” “I think the government has taken the imprudent move only to remove the opposition-backed public representatives from their posts,” she observed. Manna’s wife also denounced the charge framing against her son Manjurul Karim Rony in a political case. “The chargesheet was given to malign my family and tarnish our social status.” BNP standing committee member Hannan Shah who was present at the press conference said the government kept MA Mann in jail after unfairly arresting him in ‘false’ cases. “Our party is giving him legal support for his release. We call upon all, including the expatriate Bangladeshis, to create a public opinion for Mannan’s release.”
