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Published : 03 May 2025, 09:15 PM
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to return home on a special air ambulance of the Qatari emir.
Due to this, changes may occur to the schedule of Khaleda’s return schedule to Dhaka from London, he said on Saturday.
Fakhrul shared the development in a press briefing in Gulshan.
“We are expecting her to return on a special plane from Qatar, which hopefully would be the same jet (air ambulance) she had taken to London, the Royal Ambulance of Qatar,” he said.
“We cannot confirm the time as it will depend on several factors.”
Earlier, Fakhrul had said Khaleda was supposed to return on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines jet (BG-202).
The 79-year-old former premier travelled to London by air ambulance of the royal fleet sent by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Jan 7 for advanced medical treatment.
He sent the special jet after learning of the physical illness of the former prime minister.
On May 2, speaking about the return by air ambulance, he said the BNP had contacted Qatar two weeks ago and informed the foreign ministry, but technical issues delayed the arrangement.
This resulted in Khaleda expressing interest in returning on a Biman flight.
The BNP secretary general said, “We didn’t receive confirmation of the Qatari air ambulance until recently. The earlier Biman flight was scheduled for 11am.
"We’ll know for certain within an hour and then inform the media."
Fakhrul has called a joint meeting of the party's affiliate organisations at the chairperson's office to discuss preparations for welcoming the party chairperson.
Leaders and activists will stand on both sides of the road along the airport intersection stretching to Khaleda’s Gulshan residence “Feroza” to greet her, the party office added.
The BNP chairperson has long been suffering from multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, kidney and heart problems, diabetes, and arthritis.
Following 17 days of treatment at a London clinic, she moved to her son’s residence on Jan 25. Her care was overseen by specialist doctors Patrick Kennedy and Jennifer Cross.
Khaleda has decided to return home after four months of treatment in London.
She will be accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, Tarique Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman and late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman.
BIMAN CABIN CREW REMOVAL
Previously, authrities said that two cabin crew members supposed to be on duty aboard the Biman Bangladesh jet on Khaleda’s return had been removed.
When asked about this, Biman’s Public Relations General Manager Boshra Islam had said: “We don’t know why their schedule was changed.
“Based on information from [an intelligence agency], the names of the two cabin crew members who were withdrawn were cancelled as concerns about their political involvement and potential security risks to VIP passengers surfaced.”
On the removal of purser Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic, Boshra said: “She allegedly reaped benefits of having close ties with ruling party leaders during the Awami League regime. She’s been handed 18 show-cause notices and has been grounded multiple times as punishment."
"Junior purser Kamrul Islam Bipon has been directly involved in Awami League activities, including organising tributes at Dhanmondi 32 on Aug 15, football matches on Sheikh Kamal's birthday, and celebrating Sheikh Russel Day events at Biman," Boshra said.
However, bdnews24.com could not verify the information received as the reason for the change in cabin crew.
