Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is set to fly to London from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar on Tuesday night.
“Madam (Khaleda) will leave her Gulshan residence around 8pm and is expected to reach the airport by 9pm,” said Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP media cell.
He said the BNP chief is scheduled to depart from the airport at 10pm, accompanied by her entourage, including six doctors from her medical team.
Meanwhile, the BNP has issued special instructions to its leaders and activists to avoid causing any public inconvenience while bidding farewell to their beloved leader.
The party has requested the leaders and activists of its Dhaka South and North City units, along with all other affiliated organisations, to gather in an orderly manner on the footpaths to bid farewell to the former Prime Minister, without obstructing traffic or pedestrians.
The party also revealed the route for Khaleda Zia's convoy to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to the route plan, the BNP chief will travel to the airport from her residence, Feroza, via the Gulshan-2 intersection and Banani-Kakoli crossing.
To ensure security during Khaleda’s departure, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken special measures, including deployment of an adequate number of law enforcement personnel from the Airport Armed Police, RAB, DMP, DB and SWAT teams.
A special air ambulance dispatched by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has landed on the VIP tarmac at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 7:40pm on Monday to transport BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London.
The Qatar Royal Family's Airbus A319 air ambulance, designed for long-distance medical evacuations, is equipped with advanced medical facilities, making it a "flying ICU."
It includes ventilators, defibrillators, infusion pumps and cardiac monitors, ensuring continuous care during transit.
The aircraft features a spacious and customisable interior, with areas for stretchers, patient zones and seating for family or specialists.
Onboard, a team of four physicians and paramedics is ready to handle emergencies.
Besides, the A319's advanced climate control, soundproofing, and pressurised cabin ensure both patient comfort and safety, while real-time communication with ground experts enables the onboard medical team to provide continuous care.
With its enhanced fuel capacity and ability to land on shorter runways, the A319 is perfectly suited for long-haul medical flights.
Earlier on Monday, BNP standing committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said Khaleda Zia will be directly admitted to “The London Clinic, an advanced medical centre in London, after arriving at Heathrow International Airport in the UK.
He said Khaleda, along with her entourage—including six doctors from her medical team and four doctors from the air ambulance—will depart Hazrat Shahjalal Airport at 10pm on Tuesday for London via Doha.
Dr Zahid said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, his wife and BNP leaders from the UK chapter will welcome Khaleda upon her arrival at Heathrow Airport.
The BNP leader said Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has arranged for a special air ambulance from the royal fleet after learning of Khaleda’s illness.
Tarique Rahman and his family have been living in London since 2008. This will be Khaleda Zia’s second overseas medical trip, following her 2017 visit to London for treatment.
This will be her first reunion with her son Tarique in seven years, and her first overseas visit since she was freed from jail.
Khaleda Zia has been battling multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and complications involving her kidneys, lungs, heart and eyes.
