Chief Adviser of the Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has ordered interim release of the country's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her medical treatment abroad.

Hasina's lawyer Barrister Fazle Nur Tapash told reporters Wednesday that the chief adviser signed the executive order Tuesday night.

Tapash said Hasina is likely to be released some time Wednesday as soon as a copy of the order reaches the jail authorities.

Local reports said she may fly for the United States enroute to Canada Thursday for medical treatment.

Hasina who ruled the country as prime minister for five years from 1996 was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case during anti-corruption crackdown by the current interim government.

She has been suffering acute eyes and ears problems.

She suffered acute hearing problem following grenade attacks on her public rally in Dhaka on Aug. 21, 2004. Earlier, she received treatment of her ears in the U.S..

A medical board set up by the government recently advised her treatment abroad as her hearing aid became dysfunctional.

Hasina is now facing 15 corruption and extortion cases and trial in four corruption cases.

On Monday, four special courts in Dhaka exempted her from attendance in courts during trial proceedings in the four corruption cases.

Her party Awami League, one of the country's two major parties, has been demanding for long to release Hasina unconditionally as a pre-condition to join the pre-election political dialogue with the government.

Another detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia, also president of another major party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), denied Sunday she would go abroad, saying that she would have medical treatment at home if necessary.

BNP also demanded release of its leader Khaleda as a pre- condition to join the pre-election political dialogue with the government.