Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said a one-time travel pass could be issued within a day for BNP's acting Chairman Tarique Rahman if he wants to come back.
He made the remarks while speaking at the "DCAB Talk", an event hosted by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), in Dhaka, according to media reports.
Touhid said the interim government does not know the status of Tarique in London, and it is unusual for another country to stop him if he wants to return home.
The adviser's comments came a day after Tarique said, despite his strong desire to return to Bangladesh to be by the side of his ailing mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the decision is not entirely his to make.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, he had said his mother remains in a "critical" state under intensive care and that the entire nation, beyond political lines, has been praying for her recovery.
He noted that Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus has promised full medical support, while local and foreign doctors continue to provide the highest level of professional and sincere care for the former prime minister.
Referring to his own situation, Tarique said, "Like any child, I long to feel my mother's comforting touch during such a crisis. But unlike others, I do not have unrestricted or independent authority to decide on returning home."
He added that the issue is sensitive and cannot be elaborated further.
Tarique said the family remains hopeful that once the current political realities evolve, he will be able to return to Bangladesh after a long period of "anxious waiting."
Hours after his Facebook post, CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the interim government has no objections regarding Tarique's return to Bangladesh.
Shafiqul, also in a Facebook post, wrote, "There are no restrictions or objections from the government in this matter."
Khaleda Zia has long suffered from heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, kidney complications and other ailments. She was rushed to Evercare Hospital last Sunday after experiencing breathing difficulties.
