Published: 08:21 AM, 08 January 2025
Khaleda Zia leaves for London for treatment
Senior BNP leaders see off their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka before she left for London for advanced treatment last night. -Agency
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka for London aboard a special air ambulance last night. At 11:30pm, the aircraft began moving towards the runway from the VIP tarmac and within minutes, it took off.
Earlier, at 10:45pm, the former Prime Minister's vehicle entered Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport through gate No. 8. After completing 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.
At 8pm on Tuesday, the BNP chief left her Gulshan residence "Feroza" in a cream-coloured Pajero, accompanied by her late son Arafat Rahman Koko's wife, Syeda Shamila Rahman Sithi.
The convoy made its way slowly through the crowd of supporters gathered outside her home.
Her vehicle headed directly to Shahjalal International Airport, where a special air ambulance awaits to take her to London.
At Feroza, Khaleda's brother Shamim Iskander and his wife Kaniz Fatima, along with other family members including the wife of her late brother Sayeed Iskander, Nasreen Iskander, were present to see her off.
Khaleda Zia, 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.
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.
The BNP chairperson is expected to be admitted to the prestigious The London Clinic, a facility renowned for treating members of the British royal family and other affluent people.
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.
