United News of Bangladesh

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has expressed his gratitude to the Emir of Qatar for providing the royal air ambulance and logistical support to transport his ailing mother Khaleda Zia to London for advanced treatment. “I am deeply grateful to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, for graciously providing transportation and logistics for my mother, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said in a post on his verified Facebook page early on Friday. On behalf of his family and the people of Bangladesh, the BNP leader also extend heartfelt thanks to the Emir of Qatar for the support. “We look forward to fostering lasting, multifaceted ties between Bangladesh and Qatar,” he said. Earlier on Thursday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed gratitude to Qatar and the UK governments for facilitating the treatment of Khaldeda Zia abroad. “We convey our gratitude to the Qatar government. They provided the air ambulance without taking any rent for taking Khaleda Zia to London. We also thank the British government for facilitating her treatment there,” he said. Read: Khaleda admitted to The London Clinic for medical care Fakhrul said this while unveiling the cover of a book titled “Rajbandir Jabanbandi” which chronicles the depositions given in court by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in ‘false’ cases’ at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Thursday. Khaleda flew to London with state honour after being freed and thousands of people saw her off and she did not face any hindrance on her way to London, he said. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to The London Clinic in the United Kingdom on Wednesday for advanced treatment. She left Dhaka for London on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. Her eldest son Tarique Rahman, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman, greeted his mother with open arms at the Heathrow Airport. Khaleda’s doctors have been advocating for her treatment abroad ever since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021. Read more:  Khaleda reaches London for treatment Despite the severity of her condition, she was denied permission to travel for treatment by the Awami League government, citing legal hurdles related to her convictions in two cases. On August 6, 2024, a day after the fall of the Awami League government, Khaleda was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin, paving the way for her overseas treatment. Khaleda Zia, a three-time former Prime Minister, has been battling multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and complications involving her kidneys, lungs, heart and eyes.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is set to fly to London tonight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. “Madam (Khaleda) will leave her Gulshan residence around 8pm and is expected to reach the airport by 9pm,” said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP media cell. Khaleda to be directly admitted to ‘London Clinic’ on arrival 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. Khaleda to go to London on Jan 7 for treatment: Fakhrul 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. Oli Ahmed meets Khaleda Zia ahead of her London visit 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. BNP standing committee to meet Khaleda Sunday ahead of London trip 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.