Published on 12:00 AM, September 04, 2007

Moments before the arrest

She seemed reluctant to meet her fate. As law enforcers knocked at the door of Khaleda Zia's house at 5:30am, she appeared on the veranda more than 45 minutes later and asked: "Why are you here?"
The law enforcers then told her about the case and the reason for their presence at the address.
"Ok," Khaleda tartly replied. "Let me offer prayers, get my suitcase packed and then I will come out."
As the law enforcers requested her to let them in, she sounded agitated, "What for? You have already checked my house thrice. Why again?"
At around 7:30am, Khaleda finally stepped out with her son Koko to their uncertain future. She still looked angry.
As she walked to the vehicle, she almost said in a monologue: "I am very sad today. Why are you taking away the Zia family members one after another? Why don't you just round them together and send them to the firing squad?"
Hours later, as she stepped inside the lavish Speaker's house-turned-sub-jail complete with central AC, she looked to be lost in a different world far from her palatial luxury. She was received by the inspector general of prisons. A little hesitantly, she muttered: "I never did any household work. You know I am suffering from arthritis. May I have my personal servant to do my works?"
The jail officials said they would look into the rules if her request could be complied with.
Khaleda was then led upstairs to her bedroom. As the officials left her to herself, Khaleda gave them a crucifying last look.