BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman was still waiting last night for permission from the government to leave the country for the United Kingdom to seek treatment there.
His lawyer advocate Ahmed Aazam Khan informed reporters at 9:45pm last night that Tarique was unable to leave the country as he was yet to obtain a clearance from the government.
Aazam said the authorities informed them that Tarique would be sent back from the airport if he tries to leave the country without the aforesaid clearance.
Tarique, the eldest son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia, was scheduled to board an 11:50pm Singapore Airlines flight destined for the UK.
A home ministry source said there are no legal barriers to Tarique's leaving the country as he has obtained bail in all cases filed against him. But the government is unwilling to send Tarique away without imposing any restrictions on him whatsoever and that is the main reason behind the delay, the source added.
He said restrictions might be imposed on Tarique under certain provisions of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).
Hearing the news that Tarique would leave the country, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain went to the BSMMU at 7:00pm to bid Tarique farewell.
Earlier, wife of Tarique's maternal uncle Sayeed Iskander and Tarique's physician Dr Idris Ali went to see him.
Coming out of Tarique's cabin, Idris Ali told reporters that the BNP leader would leave the country at night for London via Singapore and get admitted to a London hospital by Friday.
Several thousand supporters also thronged the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital. They brought bouquets to bid their leader farewell and waited in front of the D-block chanting slogans and singing songs.
An ambulance of Naz-e-Noor Hospital was also brought to the entrance of D-block to carry Tarique to Zia International Airport (ZIA).
Additional police were deployed at the BSMMU and ZIA to beef up security.
Speculations over Tarique's leaving for the ZIA arose as his wife Zubaida Rahman went to the hospital at 9:30pm.
Advocate Shimul Biswas told reporters that Tarique could not go abroad yesterday because of influences from an "unseen" quarter.
Advocate Aazam Khan said, "All preparations were made to send Tarique abroad--a ticket of Singapore Airlines was purchased, the home ministry and the Supreme Court were informed. But Tarique could not leave because of the government's prevention at the last moment.
"Our all-out and peaceful attempts will continue to send Tarique abroad for treatment in the next available flight," Aazam said, adding, "We have booked tickets of the British Airways and the Emirates."
Tarique is a leading accused in corruption cases. He was released on bail on September 3 after 18 months of highly publicised imprisonment on various graft and extortion charges.
Earlier, Tarique obtained a UK visa of five years' validity on September 8 and a German visa yesterday, valid for 90 days, indicating that he may fly to Germany from the UK.
He had applied for the German visa on Tuesday, but because it takes at least a week to issue a Schengen visa to visit Europe, the German Embassy issued him a German national visa under special consideration.
Tarique's wife Zubaida, daughter Zaima Rahman, and Tarique's physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon will be accompanying Tarique. His wife and daughter were also given UK visas for five years while his physician obtained a visa for six months.
Tarique's lawyers met home ministry officials informally on Tuesday to confirm that there is no problem regarding Tarique's leaving the country for treatment. The home ministry confirmed that there is no bar from the government over the matter.
Sources said Tarique has numerous offers from his loyalists, well-wishers and BNP units from across the world including the UK, Germany and the United States--who have offered to help him with treatment in those countries.
Meanwhile, Syed Nahas Pasha, editor-in-chief of the weekly Janomot and the Curry Life Magazine in London, told The Daily Star last night over telephone that the UK chapter of BNP has made all preparations for Tarique's treatment at any specialised hospital.
Quoting the president of the BNP UK chapter, he said the party leaders there have spoken to several consultants and neurologists in London and Tarique would be admitted to whichever private hospital they suggest.