BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will return home only if the health condition of his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, deteriorates further. Otherwise, he would remain in London to monitor treatment and quickly transfer her to London once her health condition permits flying.
As planned, Tarique was supposed to return once the election schedule is announced by second week of this month. However, if Khaleda is taken to London, he would remain there. He will fly to Dhaka once Khaleda Zia is out of danger.
Sources close to Tarique told TIMES of Bangladesh that he is monitoring Khaleda Zia’s treatment from London round-the-clock, and all the arrangements for her possible transfer to the UK have already been done.
According to the sources, Tarique’s physical presence in Dhaka at this stage would not contribute meaningfully to Khaleda Zia’s treatment. Instead, they believe he can be more effective by staying in London and coordinating potential treatment options there.
A source said, “He wants to return and stay beside his mother during this critical time. But the family decision is to take her to London for advanced treatment, and he is already prepared for that. He is constantly assessing the situation in Dhaka and making decisions in consultation with his family.”
A team of British doctors has been dispatched to Dhaka to examine Khaleda’s condition, after which the next course of action will be decided, the source added.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wrote on the party’s verified Facebook page Tuesday evening that Tarique Rahman will return home only after assessing whether Khaleda Zia’s health permits her to be taken abroad.
“If the situation remains unchanged, he will return soon,” he wrote.
Khaleda Zia remains in a critical condition at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. On Monday, a top-tier Chinese medical team arrived to treat her.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Tarique conveyed his family’s and BNP’s gratitude for the global expressions of concern over Khaleda Zia’s condition.
“I want to take a moment to give our most profound thanks for the remarkable outpouring of support for Begum Khaleda Zia’s recovery,” he wrote.
He added that the solidarity shown by leaders, diplomats, and citizens has been “a source of immense strength.”
Tarique Rahman has not applied for a travel permit or any other document to return to Bangladesh.
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters on Tuesday, “As far as I know, he has not applied for the travel permit.”
Asked whether the BNP leader holds any additional passports, he replied, “I have no knowledge about that.”
He also said the government would take necessary measures to send Khaleda abroad if the BNP or her family makes such a decision.
A senior diplomat at the Bangladesh High Commission in London confirmed they have not received any request for travel documents.
Multiple intelligence sources told TIMES that the security threat is also holding Tarique back in London.
“One extremist group views BNP and Awami League as obstacles to their goal of transforming Bangladesh into an Islamic state. With Awami League no longer active in the political field, neutralising top leaders of BNP could embolden the group to achieve its mission,” an official of an intelligence agency pointed out, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The radical force, he said, is receiving support from one country and now remains very active after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. “The specific country is supported by another Muslim-majority country. They want to create chaos by targeting top political leaders.”
A close aide of Tarique said that Khaleda Zia had personally instructed her son not to return to Bangladesh before the election schedule is announced.
Meanwhile, the Special Security Force (SSF) has begun providing protection to Khaleda Zia after declaring her a “Very Very Important Person (VVIP).” SSF personnel started duty at Evercare Hospital from 2:20pm on Tuesday and will also extend security to her family members.
Once Tarique is back, he will also remain under the special security blanket, and the threat will be minimised.
