Dhaka (PTI): The authorities in Bangladesh could allow a senior Awami League leader detained under corruption charges to go abroad for medical treatment. The government on Sunday said it would parole detained Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil for overseas treatment "if necessary," as doctors suggested that the ailing politician needed immediate treatment for kidney and heart diseases.

"Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil will be paroled for treatment abroad, if necessary," said Major General (retd) M A Matin, the Home adviser of the interim government.

Jalil was arrested in July last year as part of a massive anti-graft campaign launched by the caretaker government that came to power on January 12, 2007. Matin was quoted as saying by the private BDnews24 news agency that the authorities were expecting to receive a report by a medical board constituted on Saturday to review the health condition of Jalil, who is being treated at a private hospital since July 15 last year for kidney, heart and orthopedic problems.

His comments came a day after a five-member medical board on Sunday suggested 'renal replacement therapy' in the form of dialysis or kidney transplantation for the detained leader. "After reviewing his condition, we suggested the renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation of kidney as he shows tendency of heart failure caused by his kidney problems," a member of the board and cardiologist, Baren Chakrabarti told PTI after the board meeting.