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Tarique Rahman, elder son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, reached the Gatwick Airport in London at 2:15pm o Friday to begin what political analysts see his exile.

"Tarique Rahman has reached London. He's staying in a rented house in north London," his lawyer barrister Nasiruddin Asim told at 2:30pm, quoting Great Britain BNP chapter president Qamaruddin.

"After the local specialists examine his health condition and review his treatment situation as scheduled, he'll be treated either at Hammersmith or King's Oak Hospital."

Tarique left Dhaka Thursday night, hours after meeting Khaleda after 18 months, for London for better medical treatment.

Khaleda said on Thursday Tarique quit his party post before flying out for London.

"My son will take two to three years to recover. He will be away from politics until he fully recovers," Khaleda said of Tarique, widely criticised for abuse of power during her second prime ministerial stint.

Known more as a wheeler-dealer than a leader, he had a reputation for using political perches to benefit himself, his family and his friends.

Tarique formally quit the political scene, leaving a note at the airport, resigning from his post as BNP senior joint secretary general, as he boarded the London-bound flight, a highly-placed government source said Thursday night.

His wife Zobaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, sister-in-law Shahina Akter Khan Bindu, physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon and Bindu's husband Shafiuzzaman accompanied him.

Barrister Asim said Qamaruddin, local BNP general secretary Abdul Malik and international secretary A M Muhit and a large number of Bangladeshis greeted Tarique with flowers at the airport.

Khaleda after being released on bail Thursday after a year's detention went to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital to meet her ailing elder son.

The joint forces arrested Tarique on March 7, 2007 from his Shaheed Mainul Road hime in Dhaka Cantonment.

Tarique got bail in all the 12 cases filed against him and was released from the BDMMUH prison cell on Sept 3. He stayed on at the hospital for treatment though.

After Tarique's arrest, Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco were also arrested on Sept 3, 2007. By a government order, Coco got temporary release and is under medical treatment at a hospital in Thailand.