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Trip inside hospital prison cell

Pinaki Roy
"As-Salamu Alaykum.” Lutfozzaman Babar stopped and replied, " Walaikum.”
It was 3:00pm yesterday. In khakis and a Hawaiian shirt, the former state minister for home was taking a walk down the corridor in front of his prison room at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.
Trying to strike up a conversation, this correspondent asked, "How is your health?"
Not much caring about the questioner's identity, he
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started to talk. "Not good. I’ve lost 12 kilograms in last three months. I've been suffering from a dozen diseases."
With beard and without his trademark spiky hair, the man who would hold an enormous sway during the BNP-led alliance rule, looked quite different.
This correspondent went to the cabin block to investigate leads that the BNP leader, detained on various charges, has been staying in an air-conditioned cabin at the BSM.MU and allowed two personal bodyguards.
He negotiated his way to the second floor in no time. There, he found four prison guards engrossed in chatter. Eight police-men-four each in front of two cabinstoo were oblivious to this correspondent's presence.
One of the hospital staff said former law minister Moudud Ahmed stays at cabin No.315, former communications minister Nazmul Huda at 314 and Babar at 304.
“So, what about madam [BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia]? Isn't she doing anything for you?" this cone-spondent asks Babar.
"Nothing. She issued a statement after her release, didn't even mention my name there."
Moments after the answer, he enquired about the reporter's identity. After that, he seemed a bit hesitant about continuing the talk. Still, he opted to go on.
“Did Tarique Rahman talk to you before he left the country?”
"No, he never contacted me. Not a single message, not a call...nothing.”
“So none from your party cares abootyou?”
"I don't know," Babar said in a voice barely audible.
At this point, a person with close-cropped hair came along and stood beside. Babar made eye
contact with him and signalled to leave.
Later, one of the hospital staff said, it was his guard Iqbal.
The chat continued. “Do you think the election will be held on schedule?"
"I can't say anything. I tried to be very fair during our rule, and now I'm paying the price for that.”
"What about Bashundhara bribery case, were you involved in thecover-up attempt?”
Babar paused and said, "What-
ever progress you see in the investigation was made during my term. So tell me how come I was involved in it?’’
Before moving towards the exhome affairs boss, the correspondent spoke to the duty staff, posing himself as someone with idle curiosity.
The staff said Babar walks every day while Moudud and Nazmul Huda once in a while. People meet the former ministers all too often. But no-one bothers.