Sheikh Shaira Sharmin, wife of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho, has finally traveled to Bangkok for medical treatment. She left on Thai Airways flight TG-322 at 1:30pm Sunday, accompanied by their younger daughter Medina Binte Andaleeve.
This follows Tuesday’s incident when immigration authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport prevented her from boarding the same flight, forcing her to return home.
Though not directly involved in politics, Sharmin belongs to a prominent political family through her husband and father. She is the daughter of Sheikh Helal Uddin, former Khulna MP and nephew of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Her brother Sheikh Tonmoy represented Bagerhat-2 constituency, while her uncle Sheikh Jewel was a former MP from Khulna. All left the country after the July uprising.
Her husband Partho leads one of the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s key components.
Speculation suggested Sharmin’s travel restrictions stemmed from her father’s political background rather than her husband’s. Partho had expressed frustration over his family’s blocked departure, though law enforcement never clarified the exact reasons.
This development comes amid heightened airport scrutiny following former president Abdul Hamid’s controversial May 8 midnight departure to Bangkok, which prompted government investigations and police reassignments.
The same Sunday, actress Nusraat Faria was detained at the airport. Jatiya Party General Secretary Abdul Matin Saud confirmed Sharmin successfully departed despite previous obstacles.