BNP leader Ilias Ali's wife gets court approval to travel abroad

The High Court has ordered the government not to stop missing BNP leader Ilias Ali's wife from travelling abroad.

On Sunday, immigration officers at the Dhaka airport barred Tahmina Rushdir Luna from boarding a flight to London.

She had planned to travel to the UK with her two younger children to attend the graduation ceremony of her eldest son, scheduled for next week.

On Monday, Luna filed a petition with the High Court over the incident, securing an order in her favour, said her lawyer Sagir Hossain Leon.

The court also issued a rule asking why barring her from leaving the country will not be declared illegal.

An adviser to the BNP chairperson, Luna told bdnews24.com on Sunday that immigration police had kept her waiting for an hour and a half before informing her she would not be allowed to accompany her children on the flight.

She said her eldest son Abrar Ilias graduated from the University of West England, Bristol.

Airport immigration officials have refused to comment on the travel restriction.

Former MP Ilias Ali has been missing since 2012. One of the BNP's then organising secretaries, Ali and his driver Ansar Ali went missing on Apr 18, 2012. Police found his car abandoned in Mohakhali.

Family members and the BNP alleged that he had been picked up from Banani by men in plainclothes.

The BNP blames the government for his disappearance, but the government denies it.