Home
+
Published : 08 Dec 2025, 03:31 PM
Plans to fly former prime minister Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical care have hit a fresh snag after the air ambulance hired for her travel requested the cancellation of its Tuesday landing slot in Dhaka.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) had approved the aircraft’s request to land on Tuesday following an application submitted through a third party over the weekend. But on Monday, the German operator, FAI Aviation Group, asked authorities to cancel the slot, according to a senior official at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He said no revised application had yet been received.
This is the fifth postponement of the BNP chief's planned departure. Her medical team has said the timing of the journey would depend entirely on her condition.
Khaleda has been receiving treatment at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital since Nov 23.
The 79-year-old has long suffered from arthritis and diabetes, as well as complex problems involving her kidneys, liver, lungs, heart and eyes.
Her party had initially said she would leave for London on Dec 5 aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. That aircraft was later delayed due to “technical issues”, and the BNP then announced that a replacement aircraft would be hired from Germany.
The party did not indicate when the new air ambulance would arrive or when she might travel.
On Dec 6, the medical board treating Khaleda said she was still not fit to fly. One doctor told bdnews24.com that she may be able to travel around Dec 9-10, but added that no decision had been made.
The air ambulance arranged through the Qatari embassy is a Bombardier Challenger (CL-60) series twin-engine jet operated by FAI Aviation Group, based in Nuremberg.
Delivered in 2018, the aircraft is equipped with advanced medical facilities including ventilators, monitoring equipment, infusion pumps and emergency supplies, along with a specialist team of doctors, nurses and paramedics trained in airborne critical care.
Khaleda had previously travelled to London for treatment in January, using an air ambulance from the Emir of Qatar’s personal fleet.
