Khaleda to visit London for treatment
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to go to London any day between Wednesday and Saturday for treatment of her eyes and legs and to meet family members, including her elder son, Tarique Rahman, according to party insiders.
There was a visa-related problem for Khaledas personal aide, Fatema, who will be with her during the visit. The problem was resolved on Sunday. Now, she (Khaleda) is likely to go to the British capital any day, said a source close to the BNP chief.
The BNP chairpersons private secretary, Abdus Sattar, will also accompany her to London. Besides, several party leaders, including the partys standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and vice-chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, are likely to go to London on the same flight, said the source.
The former premier will meet her family members and may stay at Tarique Rahmans residence in London. Sharmila Rahman, wife of Khaledas younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, and her two daughters are now in London, along with Tariques family members, the source added.
Many leaders opine that Khaleda may leave Dhaka on July 14 or 15 after appearing before the court on July 13 in a case.
The BNP chaipersons adviser and lawyer, advocate Sanaullah Miah, said she may go to London any day after appearing before the court on July 13.
He, however, said that there is no relation of the London visit with her appearence before the court. We have heard that the chairperson will go to London for treatment, but the date of her depurture is yet to be finalised, he added.
Some BNP leaders think that the fate of many party leaders may be decided in London during Khaledas visit, since the two top leaders of the party may decide about the party candidates for the next general election.
Some senior leaders, however, disagreed with the idea. They said Khaleda is still in the drivers seat and she is able to take decisions about party candidates. She does not require to go to London and discuss the matter with her son, and she may include only a few leaders from Tareques list at his request, they added.
Many leaders said the two leaders may discuss different organisational affairs and latest developments in Bangladeshs political arena during their meeting in London. The two leaders may touch upon many other issues including the partys next course of action and the proposal for an election-time supportive government, they added. A senior leader said the date of her London visit could be known on July 12.
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said he had also learnt about the chairpersons planned visit to London, but did not know the exact date of her departure. He also said it would be her personal visit for treatment and meeting family members.
The former minister does not think that any major decision would depend on her visit to London in the era of technology.
He, however, said that the two leaders may discuss many things related to politics and their family affairs.
The BNP chairpersons special assistant, Shimul Biswas, also said that the date of her depurture is yet to be fixed. We will let you (journalists) know after the date is finalised, he added.
Khaleda was supposed to leave for London eight months after her last visit in 2015 for a follow-up medical consultation and treatment. But she has not been able to do so even a year and a half later because of her preoccupation with the partys organisational matters, said sources.
The party was supposed to place its demand for an election-time supportive government to conduct the next general election. It will now place it after Khaledas return from the UK, said the party sources.
