BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that Tarique Rahman will decide on returning to Bangladesh after doctors assess whether former prime minister and party chairperson Khaleda Zia is fit to be taken abroad for treatment. He added that if the situation remains unchanged, Tarique may return soon.

The BNP shared these remarks in a post on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday evening, quoting Mirza Fakhrul. Earlier in the afternoon, he made similar comments at a prayer gathering in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan held for Khaleda Zia’s recovery.

Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for the past 10 days. Her condition deteriorated suddenly on Sunday night, after which she was shifted to the ICU.

Nearly 80, she has long been suffering from multiple health complications, including heart issues, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney problems. She was admitted on 23 November after experiencing breathing difficulties, and doctors later confirmed infections in her heart and lungs.

According to her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain, a group of specialist doctors from the UK is scheduled to arrive today to examine her condition. If the medical board considers her stable enough for transfer, she may be moved abroad for advanced treatment.

Khaleda Zia had previously travelled to London for treatment in January, staying there for about four months before returning to Dhaka on 6 May.

Tarique Rahman has lived in the UK since 2008 after being released from prison during the emergency period. He has since been directing the party from abroad. Discussions about his possible return resurfaced after several court rulings against him were overturned following last year’s change in government.

Speculation intensified last week amid Khaleda Zia’s critical condition, though Tarique wrote in a Facebook post that his return depends on circumstances beyond his sole control. He expressed a deep longing to be near his mother but said political realities still influence the timing of his homecoming.

Government officials have repeatedly stated that he faces no obstacles to returning. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said Tarique could receive a travel pass within a day if he wishes to come back. Today, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that no one in Bangladesh faces security risks and that the government is committed to ensuring everyone’s safety.