Staff Correspondent

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who left Dhaka on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar, has reached London to receive advanced treatment at The London Clinic.

The special air ambulance landed at Heathrow International Airport at 2:55 pm (Bangladsh time) , BNP Media Cell Member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.

The 79-year-old, three-time former prime minister, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:46pm on Tuesday, heading for London via Doha on the Qatar Royal Family's Airbus A319 air ambulance.

Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom Hazrat Ali Khan greeted Khaleda Zia with a bouquet.

The air ambulance took off 1 hour and 46 minutes late, as Khaleda's convoy moved slowly amidst the huge crowd of BNP leaders and activists lining the streets.

Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members, saw off Khaleda Zia at the airport.

The special air ambulance carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also transported four Royal Qatari doctors and paramedics.

Besides, six members of Khaleda Zia's medical board—Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, Professor FM Siddique, Professor Naruddin Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, and Dr. Mohammad Al Mamun— were accompanying her on the flight.

Khaleda's entourage also included her daughter-in-law, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, the wife of her late son Arafat Rahman Koko, advisory council member Enamul Haque Chowdhury, executive committee member Tabith Awal, private secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, along with other personal staff and employees.

To ensure security during Khaleda’s departure, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) took special measures, including deployment of an adequate number of law enforcement personnel from the Airport Armed Police, RAB, DMP, DB and SWAT teams.

Khaleda’s doctors have been advocating for her treatment abroad ever since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021.

Despite the severity of her condition, she was denied permission to travel for treatment by the Awami League government, citing legal hurdles related to her convictions in two cases.

However, on August 6, 2024, a day after the fall of the Awami League government, Khaleda was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin, paving the way for her overseas treatment.

Tarique Rahman and his family have been living in London since 2008. This will be Khaleda’s first reunion with her son Tarique in seven years, and her first overseas visit since she was freed from jail.

This will be Khaleda Zia’s second overseas medical trip, following her 2017 visit to London for treatment.

On July 15, 2017, the BNP chief went to London and received treatment, spent time with her family members and celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with them during her three month stay there.