Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
After arriving in London, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken directly from Heathrow Airport to a hospital.
She will be admitted to the ‘London Clinic' for advanced medical treatment.
On Wednesday, BNP Chairperson’s Media Wing official Shamsuddin Didar provided this information.
He said that Khaleda Zia was driven to the hospital by BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, from the airport.
At 2:58pm Bangladesh time on Wednesday, the air ambulance carrying Khaleda Zia landed at London’s Heathrow Airport.
From there, she was directly taken to the hospital.
The air ambulance arrived in London nearly three hours later than scheduled.
At Heathrow Airport, she was received by Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the party and her son, along with her daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman.
Members of the third generation of the Zia family were also present at the airport.
Khaleda Zia has been suffering from multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, for a long time.
In 2018, the three-time former Prime Minister was convicted in a corruption case and sent to prison.
Her health deteriorated after being incarcerated.
During this time, her family and party repeatedly appealed to the government for permission to take her abroad for treatment.
Although she was released from prison during the COVID-19 pandemic by executive order, the government at the time did not permit her to seek treatment abroad.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 through a student-led uprising, Khaleda Zia was released by presidential order.
The case in which she was sentenced was also annulled.
Following a lengthy process, arrangements were made to take her to London.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing official Shamsuddin Didar informed that on Tuesday at 11:46pm, the air ambulance carrying Begum Khaleda Zia departed from Shahjalal International Airport.
It transited through Doha, Qatar, and landed at Heathrow Airport at 2:58pm Bangladesh time on Wednesday.
Khaleda Zia was greeted at Heathrow Airport by Acting High Commissioner Hazrat Ali Khan on behalf of the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK with a bouquet of flowers.
Additionally, UK BNP President MA Malek, General Secretary Kaisar Ahmed, and representatives of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, including Kamal Uddin, were present to welcome the former Prime Minister.
