BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is unlikely to travel to London before Sunday as her planned medical flight has been delayed because the special air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar has still not arrived in Dhaka.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told UNB that the air ambulance could not come on Friday due to technical problems.

“The air ambulance is not arriving today because of a technical issue. If everything goes well, it may reach Dhaka on Saturday,” he said.

Fakhrul said the final decision on flying will depend on Khaleda Zia’s health condition on the day of travel.

Apart from the delay in the arrival of the air ambulance, he said Khaleda’s physical condition deteriorated slightly on Thursday night.

“A medical procedure will be done today, after which the doctors will decide whether she is fit to fly. Everything depends on her health. If Madam is fit for the journey and the medical board gives approval, then InshaAllah she will fly on Sunday (December 7),” Fakhrul said.

The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since 23 November and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on 27 November with multiple complications.

Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, also arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning to be with her critically ill mother-in-law. 

She left London Heathrow Airport at 6:53pm (London time) on Thursday on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight and landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:43am (Bangladesh time) on Friday, said BNP Media Cell member Atiqur Rahman Rumon.

Zubaida was scheduled to accompany Khaleda Zia back to London today on a special air ambulance provided by the Amir of Qatar.