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Her son Tarique will welcome her at London airport upon arrival
Published : 07 Jan 2025, 09:01 PM
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has left Dhaka for London aboard a special air ambulance.
At 11:30pm, the aircraft started moving towards the runway from the VIP tarmac; within minutes, it took off.
Khaleda’s physician AZM Zahid Hossain said, “The special air ambulance has started its journey with Madam on board.
“We request prayers from the people for her well-being.”
Earlier, at 10:45pm, The BNP chief’s vehicle entered Shahjalal International Airport through gate No. 8.
After completing some formalities, she boarded the air ambulance at 11:10pm.
The aircraft, sent by Qatar’s emir, is scheduled for a stopover in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, before proceeding to London.
Khaleda’s convoy moved towards the airport as she waved and smiled to farewell greetings from thousands of party leaders and activists.
The journey from her Gulshan residence, “Feroza”, to the airport took one and a half hours.
Her convoy left at 8:16pm and took about an hour to reach the Airport Road due to heavy traffic along routes such as Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan-2, Banani Kamal Atatürk Avenue, and Kakoli.
The traffic congestion delayed her 10pm flight.
Dr Zahid said, "The ambulance will first stop in Doha, and after a brief layover, it is scheduled to reach Heathrow Airport at 9:30am local time."
He added that from the airport, the BNP chairperson will be taken directly by ambulance to The London Clinic.
"Madam will be admitted to this clinic, and doctors from the hospital will be present at the airport to receive her.
"To welcome his mother after seven years, Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman, his daughter Zaima Rahman, along with the president and general secretary of [the UK] BNP and a few others, will be present at the main terminal of the airport."
Khaleda, 79, has long suffered from multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, heart problems, arthritis, kidney complications, and diabetes.
For years, her family and party members have been striving to arrange her treatment abroad.
After the political transition in Bangladesh, plans for her overseas treatment gained momentum, and all formalities were completed.
Initially, the plan was for her to travel via London to the United States, but it was later finalised that she would receive treatment at a hospital in the UK.
This will be Khaleda’s first trip abroad since Jul 15, 2017, when she last visited the UK for treatment for her eyes and feet.
