Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inquired about the health condition of BNP’s vice chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who is now in a critical condition at the New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Hasina, the president of ruling Awami League, directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps as the former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation can return home without any hassle in spite of some legal barriers.

US Awami League President Dr Siddiqur Rahman, who visited Khoka, the former fisheries and livestock minister, at the hospital on Sunday, confirmed the news.

Earlier on Sunday, BNP sought assistance from the government to bring back the valiant freedom fighter.

Later, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said in a message shared on his Facebook wall that Bangladesh Mission in New York is ready to issue ‘travel permit’ if the family of former mayor of Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka applies for that.

On May 14, 2014, Khoka, who also served as a fisheries and livestock minister, and his wife went to the USA with travel visa for cancer treatment.

The freedom fighter stepped into politics through Moulana Bhasani’s National Awami Party. Later, he joined the BNP, and was made the party’s Dhaka city unit president.

Khoka was elected as an MP in 1991. Later, he contested Dhaka City Corporation election in 2002 and was elected mayor. He held the post for nearly nine years.