Tarique Rahman arrives in London for treatment

Ailing Tarique Rahman, elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, along with his family members arrived here by an Emirates flight on Friday morning for treatment.

Scores of workers of BNP and its front organizations received him at Gatwick Airport at 7:15am (local time).

Tarique is accompanied by wife Dr Jubaida Rahman, daughter Jaima Jarnaz Rahman, wife's elder sister Shahina Khan and her husband Air Commodore (retd) Shafiuzzaman as well as his personal physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolan.

From the airport, he straight went to the Southgate in central London where he will be staying at a house arranged earlier for him.

Before getting admitted to a London hospital, two physicians will examine him at this house on the advice of the physicians. Tarique might be admitted to Hammersmith Hospital in West London.

Tarique Rahman flew for London on Thursday night along with his family members shortly after his just-released mother gave him a tearful sendoff.

His scheduled trip was postponed on Wednesday night following last-minute complications, as his mother, who was detained in a sub-jail, wished to see him before he left the country.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia visited Tarique at BSMMU Hospital on Thursday afternoon in an emotional reunion between the mother and the son after their release from prison.

The ex-Prime Minister was released on bail from the makeshift jail in the parliament complex earlier in the day.

Tarique was released on bail on September 3 from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after nearly 18 months in detention and drama in power politics.

Tarique, 43, considered a political heir of the Zia family, was arrested on March 7 last year from their cantonment residence by army-led joint forces amid a purge against crime and corruption after the 11/1 changeover following a political crisis over election issues.

His mother Khaleda Zia and younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko were also arrested on graft charges. Koko was released on July 17 on health grounds and is now undergoing treatment for respiratory complications at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok.

Of the 13 pending cases against Tarique, nine were filed by police and individuals on various charges, including extortion, three by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of graft, and another by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for tax evasion.