Khaleda Zia applies for visa to visit UK

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has applied for visa to go to the United Kingdom for treatment, her party says. She went to ‘VF Global’ office at Gulshan-2 Monday evening to submit her visa application. Khlaeda, accompanied by former diplomat Sabihuddin Ahmed of her advisory panel, completed formalities within half an hour and went home around 6:45pm. In the morning, her party said the former prime minister would leave for London within a day or two for treatment. Her elder son Tarique Rahman, accused in a number of cases including one over the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004, has been living in London for the last seven years. BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said the party chief would stay there for around 10 days.

“She will have to visit the doctor twice,” he said. “For that, she will stay in the UK for about a week or maximum 10 days.” He, however, did not say anything about the ailments. But several BNP leaders, familiar with the matter, said the party chief would see an ophthalmologist, according to a news agency.----Aminul