Saturday, 06 December, 2025
Bangladesh remains gripped by concern as BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, critically ill and under intensive care, may be flown to London for advanced treatment—though the plan now hinges entirely on her health.
The day began with confident announcements of an airlift on a Qatari-provided air ambulance. By nightfall, however, the question had shifted: not when she would fly, but whether she could fly at all. The original aircraft faced technical issues, and her condition reportedly deteriorated, delaying the journey.
BNP leaders emphasised that Khaleda would be transferred abroad only if the medical board clears her for a long-haul flight, ensuring her body can withstand hours in the air. A senior party official said the medical board had initially approved the transfer on Thursday after observing some improvement.
“But her condition worsened overnight, which is also a reason for the delay,” he added. The board is now reviewing her status again.
In a show of familial and political support, Khaleda’s daughter-in-law, Dr Zubaida Rahman, arrived in Dhaka from London on Friday morning to accompany her on the trip. Dr Zubaida, a physician and member of Khaleda’s medical board, proceeded directly to Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara, where the former prime minister has been admitted since 23 November.
Across the country, thousands attended special prayers after Friday Jum’a services, seeking Khaleda’s recovery. BNP units organised additional supplications, while prominent figures, including the chiefs of the armed forces, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman, and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, have visited her at the hospital.
A 12-member medical board led by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, supported by specialists from China and the UK, has been overseeing Khaleda’s treatment. On Thursday, the board met with foreign experts and confirmed the need for transfer abroad, but the air ambulance’s technical failure and her fluctuating condition have postponed the operation.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reiterated that the transfer will proceed only if Khaleda is fit to travel. “If the air ambulance arrives on Saturday and the medical board agrees, she can be flown to London on Sunday,” he said.
He also highlighted her long-standing commitment to democracy, recalling her years in prison and ongoing health struggles that date back to Covid-19, which exacerbated her chronic conditions.
Dr Zubaida Rahman visited Khaleda’s bedside on Friday, met with doctors to discuss her latest condition, and later went to her parental home in Dhanmondi. According to BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan, Khaleda remains in a critical state under the watch of the medical board.
The former prime minister, 79, suffers from arthritis, diabetes, and complex multi-organ complications, including her kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and eyes.
Since her release from prison in 2020, she has largely stayed away from political events, though her return from treatment in London earlier this year gave renewed momentum to the BNP. She had planned to contest three constituencies in the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February.
The Qatari government initially arranged a special air ambulance for the transfer, but it was grounded due to mechanical failure. A replacement aircraft, provided by the German firm FAI Aviation and leased from Nuremberg, is now set to fly Khaleda to London. The Bombardier Challenger CL-60 twin-engine aircraft is fully equipped with advanced medical facilities and is expected to fly via refuelling stops en route.
As the nation watches anxiously, the timeline for Khaleda Zia’s departure remains uncertain. The final decision rests with her medical team, who continue to monitor her condition closely.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and supporters across the country are holding prayers and gatherings, reflecting widespread concern for the health of a leader who has played a defining role in Bangladesh’s democratic history.
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Bangladesh remains gripped by concern as BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, critically ill and under intensive care, may be flown to London for advanced treatment—though the plan now hinges entirely on her health.
The day began with confident announcements of an airlift on a Qatari-provided air ambulance. By nightfall, however, the question had shifted: not when she would fly, but whether she could fly at all. The original aircraft faced technical issues, and her condition reportedly deteriorated, delaying the journey.
BNP leaders emphasised that Khaleda would be transferred abroad only if the medical board clears her for a long-haul flight, ensuring her body can withstand hours in the air. A senior party official said the medical board had initially approved the transfer on Thursday after observing some improvement.
“But her condition worsened overnight, which is also a reason for the delay,” he added. The board is now reviewing her status again.
In a show of familial and political support, Khaleda’s daughter-in-law, Dr Zubaida Rahman, arrived in Dhaka from London on Friday morning to accompany her on the trip. Dr Zubaida, a physician and member of Khaleda’s medical board, proceeded directly to Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara, where the former prime minister has been admitted since 23 November.
Across the country, thousands attended special prayers after Friday Jum’a services, seeking Khaleda’s recovery. BNP units organised additional supplications, while prominent figures, including the chiefs of the armed forces, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman, and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, have visited her at the hospital.
A 12-member medical board led by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, supported by specialists from China and the UK, has been overseeing Khaleda’s treatment. On Thursday, the board met with foreign experts and confirmed the need for transfer abroad, but the air ambulance’s technical failure and her fluctuating condition have postponed the operation.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reiterated that the transfer will proceed only if Khaleda is fit to travel. “If the air ambulance arrives on Saturday and the medical board agrees, she can be flown to London on Sunday,” he said.
He also highlighted her long-standing commitment to democracy, recalling her years in prison and ongoing health struggles that date back to Covid-19, which exacerbated her chronic conditions.
Dr Zubaida Rahman visited Khaleda’s bedside on Friday, met with doctors to discuss her latest condition, and later went to her parental home in Dhanmondi. According to BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan, Khaleda remains in a critical state under the watch of the medical board.
The former prime minister, 79, suffers from arthritis, diabetes, and complex multi-organ complications, including her kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and eyes.
Since her release from prison in 2020, she has largely stayed away from political events, though her return from treatment in London earlier this year gave renewed momentum to the BNP. She had planned to contest three constituencies in the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February.
The Qatari government initially arranged a special air ambulance for the transfer, but it was grounded due to mechanical failure. A replacement aircraft, provided by the German firm FAI Aviation and leased from Nuremberg, is now set to fly Khaleda to London. The Bombardier Challenger CL-60 twin-engine aircraft is fully equipped with advanced medical facilities and is expected to fly via refuelling stops en route.
As the nation watches anxiously, the timeline for Khaleda Zia’s departure remains uncertain. The final decision rests with her medical team, who continue to monitor her condition closely.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and supporters across the country are holding prayers and gatherings, reflecting widespread concern for the health of a leader who has played a defining role in Bangladesh’s democratic history.
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