Decision on Khaleda Zia’s London transfer likely tonight

Doctors at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka will decide tonight whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will travel to London for advanced treatment, party officials said on Saturday.

BNP’s media cell confirmed that the medical board will review her condition later in the evening and take a final decision on the proposed transfer.

Khaleda Zia was scheduled to fly to London early Friday on an air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. However, the aircraft could not make the way to Dhaka for some technical faults.

Officials say the Qatar government has since arranged a German air ambulance and is covering all related costs and logistics.

Prof AQM Mohsin supervised Khaleda Zia’s endoscopy on Friday. Her personal physician Al Mamun said that the endoscopy confirmed the bleeding in her stomach has stopped.

Her daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning and immediately visited Evercare Hospital to check on the BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s health condition. She is now working with the medical board to chart the next steps in Khaleda Zia’s treatment.

Khaleda Zia, 80, has long suffered from arthritis, diabetes, kidney complications, lung problems and eye-related illnesses. She was freed after the mass uprising on 5 August 2024, travelled to London for advanced treatment on 7 January this year, and returned home on 6 May after 117 days.

She has remained in the hospital’s CCU for the past 13 days, according to senior BNP leaders. Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said her overseas travel ultimately depends on her physical condition.