Fakhrul returns from Singapore, complains of harassment at airport

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir returned home from Singapore today after a week-long medical check-up and treatment.

Fakhrul along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman flight around 6:30pm.

Talking to reporters at the airport, Fakhrul said he faced harassment at the airport as an opposition party leader upon arrival.

"Those of us who belong to the opposition parties have to face harassment at the immigration both during departure and arrival. It has now become a part of life. I had to face this despite going [abroad] for treatment," he claimed.

However, he did not explain further what kind of harassment he had to face at the immigration.

Replying to a query about a false campaign against him regarding taking Tk 50 lakh from the PM's relief fund for treatment, Fakhrul said he was unwilling to talk "about such a dirty thing".

"The government has created such a society where there is nothing but foul play. It's a matter of sorrow that dirty things, involving politicians like us who were involved in the Liberation War, have been spread in the media and on social media. It's embarrassing for me to answer it," he observed.

On August 24, the couple went to Singapore for a follow-up medical checkup and treatment.

Fakhrul said he received treatment at the National University Hospital in Singapore for various health issues, including a blockage in the nerve in his neck.

His wife Rahat Ara Begum also received treatment at Raffles Hospital for health complications.

After being released from jail in 2015, Fakhrul went to Singapore for treatment, where an issue in his internal carotid artery was detected. Since then, he has gone to Singapore every year for follow-up treatment.