DHAKA, May 17: Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia has postponed plans to travel to Singapore for medical treatment after an extortion case was filed against her younger son, an official said on Thursday.

It was not immediately clear whether the decision meant a deal between Khaleda and the military-backed government, which has been trying to force her into exile, had fallen through.

Khaleda last month reportedly agreed to go into exile in return for leniency for her two sons, who face corruption allegations as part of the emergency government's anti-graft drive.

Khaleda and her younger son, Arafat Rahman, were scheduled to leave for Singapore late Wednesday, but the former premier postponed the trip after hearing of the case filed against her son, said a spokesman for her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Khaleda's elder son, Tareque Rahman, is in custody on corruption charges as part of the government's graft crackdown.

“She is very sick and needs treatment for arthritis and a heart problem.

Her son, (Arafat) also complained of heart problems in recent days and doctors have advised both of them to seek better treatment abroad,” said spokesman Nazrul Islam Khan.

Party officials declined to comment on whether the Singapore trip was part of any deal between Khaleda and the government.—AFP