Khaleda Zia’s departure for London delayed

Published : Saturday, 6 December, 2025 at 10:21 AM Count : 45

The medical evacuation of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been delayed, as the special air ambulance sent by the Amir of Qatar has not yet arrived, the BNP has confirmed. Meanwhile, her elder son Tarique Rahman’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, has arrived in Dhaka to accompany her to London.

She landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:45am on Friday on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. From the airport, she went straight to Evercare Hospital, where she stayed for about two and a half hours before leaving for her father’s residence in Dhanmondi around 2:30pm.

BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, quoting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said the air ambulance would not arrive Friday due to technical issues. “If everything goes smoothly, it may arrive on Saturday. If Madam’s physical condition is suitable for travel and the medical board approves, then InshaAllah she will leave for London on Sunday,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Khaleda Zia’s personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said she could be taken to London for advanced treatment around midnight or early Friday morning.

Later that night, BNP’s press wing announced that the special air ambulance arranged by the Amir of Qatar had developed technical problems, delaying her travel.

The 79-year-old former prime minister has long suffered from arthritis, diabetes, and complications involving her kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and eyes.

During the Awami League government, Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on 8 February 2018. She was initially kept in prison under special arrangements and later transferred to hospital care. She was also sentenced in another corruption case. While undergoing treatment in hospital, she was released on executive order under special conditions and moved to her residence in Gulshan.

Following the political upheaval of August 2024, a presidential executive order on August 6 granted her complete remission from all convictions. She later travelled to London for treatment in January the following year.

Since her release in 2020, she has not taken part directly in any political programs. However, after returning from treatment in London earlier this year, her presence sparked renewed enthusiasm within the BNP. The party announced that she would contest three constituencies in the upcoming 13th national elections scheduled for February.

On November 23, Khaleda Zia was taken to hospital for a routine checkup, but she was admitted after a lung infection was detected. As her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to the Critical Care Unit (CCU).

After the government declared her a “VVIP,” SSF and PGR took over her security, along with the chiefs of the three armed forces. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also visited her at the hospital on Wednesday.

A 12-member medical board headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder has been supervising her treatment at Evercare Hospital. Several specialist doctors from China and the United Kingdom have also arrived in Dhaka in recent days to assist.

The interim government has called for special prayers at all mosques nationwide after Friday’s Juma prayers, seeking Khaleda Zia’s swift recovery. The BNP has also announced prayer programs across places of worship of all religions.

On Thursday at around 11:30am, the full medical board met at Evercare Hospital, joined by the specialist doctors from the UK and China.

FP/A