BNP leader Hazifuddin ‘barred ‘from travelling to India

Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.

Dhaka, Dec 12 – The immigration authorities at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport reportedly barred BNP Vice Chairman Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed from travelling to India for treatment on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters, the BNP leader said he was supposed to go to India along with his wife at 2:30pm by a flight of Air India.

“After I arrived at the airport, they asked me to wait at the immigration. My wife was with me. She was allowed to go but I was barred from leaving the country,” he said.

As he is sick, Hafiz said he made all arrangements for receiving treatment at a hospital in Delhi on doctor's advice.

Hafiz Uddin said he was scheduled to undergo knee surgery at Delhi's Fortis Hospital on Wednesday.

Asked why he was obstructed from going abroad, the BNP leader said immigration officials could not tell him any specific reason.

Before the announcement of the election schedule, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters that many BNP leaders, including  Hafizuddin, would leave BNP to join a new party.

Later, in a press conference at his Banani residence on November 8,  Hafizuddin said he would retire from politics soon and dismissed the speculation of forming a new party by splitting BNP.

“I’m not physically capable of participating in active politics. I will retire soon…my priority now is my health. It is not true that I will form a new political party. I am not active in politics right now. If BNP takes part in the election, I will participate. I am still with BNP and will stay with the party,” he told the press conference. - UNB