C T Online Desk: Khaleda Zia departed for London from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:46pm on Tuesday on a special Royal Air Ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was accompanied by her doctors, family members, and work assistants. Additionally, a team of doctors from the Qatari government is on board the plane.
The special plane of the Emir of Qatar, the “Royal Air Ambulance”, arrived in Dhaka at 7:40pm on Monday to transport Khaleda Zia to London.
A large number of BNP leaders and activists gathered in the Gulshan area starting in the evening, in anticipation of Khaleda Zia’s medical visit to London. A large crowd was seen near her Gulshan residence, Firoza, around 7pm on Tuesday.
Earlier, her visit to the UK prompted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to enter Firoza’s residence at around 6:15pm While entering, Mirza Fakhrul advised everyone present, including leaders and activists, to stand on the sidewalk in an orderly manner and keep the road clear.
Senior BNP leaders said that Khaleda Zia is traveling for medical treatment, and they do not currently see any political implications in her trip. Instead, they believe her proximity to family members, including her children, after a long time, along with access to improved medical care, are the primary considerations.
A senior BNP leader remarked that Khaleda Zia will lead the BNP and the country after returning in good health following her treatment. BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said: “May she return to us healthy. We pray that her treatment is successful.”
During conversations with BNP leaders and activists, it was revealed that Khaleda Zia left Gulshan for the airport at 8pm. At that time, BNP leaders and activists positioned themselves along the route. On Monday night, Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP divided specific areas for leaders and activists to gather.
Yesterday evening, BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing Officer Shamsuddin Didar informed the media that, after a long wait, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is traveling to the UK for better treatment. She departed for the airport from her Gulshan residence, Firoza, at 8pm.
The BNP Chairperson is traveling to London after an absence of nearly seven years. Her party and family expect her to arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, Bangladesh time. Her personal physician, Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, said that Khaleda Zia will be admitted to the London Clinic upon her arrival in the UK.
BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said that before her departure to London, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the Standing Committee bid farewell to Khaleda Zia at the airport.
Six members of Khaleda’s medical board are traveling with her on the plane from Dhaka. They include Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, Prof FM Siddique, Prof Nuruddin Ahmed, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, and Dr Mohammad Al Mamun.
Additionally, Khaleda Zia is accompanied by her younger son’s wife, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Executive Committee member Tabith Awal, her Private Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and several personal officials and employees.
The 79-year-old Khaleda Zia has been suffering from various health complications, including liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and kidney problems, for an extended period.
