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After a critical twelve-day stay in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is reportedly scheduled to depart for London on Friday, December 5, to receive advanced medical treatment. While preparations are in full swing for her departure, party sources have confirmed that her son, Tarique Rahman, will not be returning to Dhaka at this time.
The transfer is being facilitated by a specialized air ambulance sent by the State of Qatar. According to diplomatic sources, the aircraft, provided under the direct instruction of the Emir of Qatar, is fully prepared and awaiting final clearance from the medical board. The flight is expected to take off once physicians give their formal consent. A fourteen-member delegation, including her personal physicians and aides, will accompany the former Prime Minister on this journey.
The situation surrounding the BNP chief’s health remains delicate. Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, addressed the press at the party's central office in Nayapaltan, stating that Begum Zia’s physical condition remains unchanged and she continues to undergo rigorous treatment. She was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on the evening of November 23 and has since been reported to be in a critical state by senior party leaders and members of her medical board, including Dr. Zahid Hossain.
Security measures around the hospital have been significantly heightened following the state’s designation of Begum Zia as a "Very Important Person" (VIP). Members of the Special Security Force (SSF) and the President Guard Regiment (PGR) have been deployed to secure the hospital premises. In preparation for the logistics of her transfer, the Chief Adviser's office announced that the Bangladesh Army and Air Force would conduct trial helicopter landings and takeoffs at two open fields near Evercare Hospital on Thursday between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Authorities have urged the public not to be misled by rumors or misinformation regarding these standard security exercises.
Begum Khaleda Zia, aged 79, has been battling a complex array of chronic health issues for years, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and complications involving her kidneys, lungs, and eyes. Following the fall of the Awami League government in a mass uprising on August 5 last year, she was released from executive custody. She previously traveled to London for medical purposes on January 7 of this year, returning on May 6 after a 117-day stay. As the nation anticipates her departure for this latest round of treatment, the government has also issued a call for nationwide prayers for her recovery.
