United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s departure for London for advanced medical treatment is now expected to be delayed until late Friday morning (December 05, 2025), as the special air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar may arrive in Dhaka later than initially scheduled due to technical issues, according to party sources. Besides, Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, is scheduled to reach Dhaka around 9:30am Friday to accompany her critically ill mother-in-law during the flight to the UK in the special aircraft. At a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Thursday afternoon (December 04), BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the air ambulance was expected to arrive late at night. He later told UNB that ‘some technical problems’ have arisen which could delay its arrival. Read more: Who’re accompanying Khaleda Zia to London? BNP Media Cell member Atiqur Rahman Rumon said Dr Zubaida Rahman is scheduled to fly from London around 6pm local time by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. “The flight is expected to land in Dhaka around 9:30am Bangladesh time,” he said. Once in Dhaka, Rumon said Zubaida will travel back to London in the Qatar air ambulance with the BNP Chairperson. Zubaida, who is also a member of the medical board formed for Khaleda’s treatment, has been monitoring her condition continuously through virtual consultations. Khaleda Zia, the 80-year-old three-time former prime minister, has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital since 23 November after being admitted with multiple health complications. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the Critical Care Unit on 27 November, where she remains under close observation. Doctors said Khaleda Zia is receiving intensive care for several complications related to her liver, kidneys and heart. BNP sources said Tarique and Zubaida have completed all arrangements for Khaleda’s treatment at London Bridge Hospital in the UK. Mirza Fakhrul said all necessary procedures for Khaleda’s travel have already been completed. “You may already know who will accompany her. A team of doctors will travel with Madam.” The BNP leader said the royal air ambulance is equipped with modern medical facilities. “It has everything available, even an operation theatre.” Earlier in the day, Khaleda’s personal physician and BNP Standing Committee Member AZM Zahid Hossain said she will be flown to London for advanced medical treatment. The decision was made unanimously by a medical board including local and foreign specialists, he told reporters at a briefing in front of Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Read more: Zubaida Rahman set to fly to Dhaka to accompany ailing Khaleda to London “She will be taken to London by a Qatar royal air ambulance. We have selected a hospital in London for her treatment and, InshAllah, we will take her there,” he said. He said several specialist doctors and two foreign physicians will accompany Khaleda during the trip to the UK. Regarding her current condition, Zahid said every step has been taken strictly as advised by the medical board. “They advised that sending her to London at this stage is the most appropriate. We hope she will recover and return to us.” On 8 January, Khaleda Zia travelled to London in a special air ambulance sent by the Amir of Qatar for advanced medical treatment and returned home on 6 May in the same aircraft. The government has declared Khaleda Zia a ‘Very Very Important Person’ and deployed members of the Special Security Force to ensure her safety. Party sources said Khaleda will first be airlifted to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by helicopter and then she will board the air ambulance. Read more: Khaleda Zia to be flown to London: Dr Zahid

A total of 15 people will accompany BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on her flight to London, scheduled to depart early Friday, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan today (Thursday, December 04). Those accompanying the former prime minister include her daughter-in-law Syeda Shameela Rahman; Adviser to the chairperson Dr Mohammad Anamul Haque Choudhury; physicians Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain, Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui, Md Shahabuddin Talukder, Nooruddin Ahmad, Md Zafor Iqbal, Mohammad Al Mamun, and UK-based specialist Dr Richard Beale; SSF officials Hasan Shahriar Iqbal and Syed Samin Mahfuz; acting chairman’s assistant Md Abdul Hai Mollick; assistant private secretary Md Masuder Rahman; and housemaids Fatema Begum and Rupa Sikdar. Khaleda Zia has been receiving intensive treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since her admission on November 23. She remains in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) due to multiple complications involving her liver, kidneys and heart. Read more: Khaleda Zia to be flown to UK for advanced treatment: Fakhrul A medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, with specialists from both home and abroad, has been overseeing her treatment. Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party chief may be flown to the United Kingdom early Friday on a royal air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar. “You have already heard that we have received a highly advanced air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, on his own initiative and out of his generosity. It will arrive here tonight and, most likely, very early in the morning, they will take our leader Begum Khaleda Zia to the United Kingdom,” he said during a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Read more: Air ambulance delay may slightly push back Khaleda Zia’s departure

BNP will organise a nationwide ‘Victory Torch Roadshow’ along with a ‘grand  rally’ on December 16 at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital to mark the Month of Victory. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the Party Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday (November 29). He said the month-long events will include the torch roadshow and discussion meetings from December 1 to 16. “In March 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence from the Kalurghat Radio Station in Chattogram. Kalurghat is an inseparable part of our Liberation War. This year, BNP’s Victory Month celebrations will begin from the historic Kalurghat Radio Station,” Fakhrul said. Read more: BNP urges supporters not to crowd hospital, requests prayers for Khaleda On December 1, he said the Victory Torch Roadshow will start from the Kalurghat Radio Station and reach Biplob Udyan in Chattogram. The BNP leader said the torch will be carried by a distinguished freedom fighter from 1971 and a warrior of July, 2024 mass uprising. “We believe that the 1971 Liberation War was to achieve the country’s independence, and the mass uprising in 2024 was to protect the freedom of the country and its people,” he observed. The BNP secretary general said that after Chittagong, ‘Victory Torch Roadshow’ and rallies will be held in Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Bogura, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, and Faridpur gradually. “In each division, the torch will be carried by a prominent 1971 freedom fighter and a 2024 warrior.” During the special Victory Torch Roadshow’ over the two weeks, Fakhrul said celebration will also include visits to historic liberation war sites in various divisions, performances of the national anthem, liberation songs, patriotic songs, speeches by the late President Ziaur Rahman, Mother of Democracy Begum Khaleda Zia, and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, as well as cultural programmes and documentary screenings presented by Jasas. Read more: BNP unveils six-day ‘country-building plan’ “The programme will also showcase BNP’s 31-point outline for building a safe, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh. The party’s theme song ‘Shobar Age Bangladesh’ will be played during the roadshow. After touring all divisions, the Victory Torch Roadshow will arrive in Dhaka on December 16 and conclude with a mega rally at Manik Mia Avenue,” he said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (November 29) said the medical board treating party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has observed that she may need treatment abroad, but her current condition is not suitable for travel. “As you all know, our country’s undisputed leader, the Mother of Democracy, Begum Khaleda Zia, has been seriously ill and admitted to Evercare Hospital for several days. Her condition is quite critical,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said distinguished doctors from Bangladesh, as well as specialist physicians from Johns Hopkins in the United States and the London Clinic in the UK, are overseeing her treatment. “Last night, the full medical board held a meeting for nearly two and a half hours. They discussed her treatment in detail and shared their opinions on how her care should proceed and what type of treatment she now requires. The medical board has said that she may need to be taken abroad, but in her current physical condition, it is not possible to move her. She is not fit for overseas travel right now,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Khaleda’s health still fragile, doctors report no improvement Once her condition stabilises, he said the medical board will consider whether she can be taken abroad. Fakhrul also mentioned that preparations for possible overseas treatment of the BNP chief are already underway. “Visa matters, communication with countries where treatment might be possible, and other formalities have been discussed in detail. These preparations are progressing. So, if the need arises and she becomes ready to fly, a quick decision can be made,” he said. The press conference was held to announce the BNP’s torch-roadshow programme for Victory Month. During the event, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also responded to questions from journalists about why acting chairman Tarique Rahman has not returned to the country while his mother’s condition remains critical. He said Tarique Rahman has already made a Facebook post on the matter and that the post should be taken as self-explanatory. “There is no need for me to answer this, as he himself has made a post on Facebook,” Fakhrul said. When reporters pressed further, he added, “I cannot explain this, because he is the party’s acting chairman, my leader, and the head of the party. He has made a post, and you can take that post as his statement. No further explanation is needed at this moment.” Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt In his Facebook post today, Tarique Rahman said that his return to the country is not entirely under his control. As many people have continued gathering around the hospital, BNP leaders again urged people from all walks of life not to crowd the area. “Naturally, Begum Khaleda Zia is the most popular leader in this country, and people are deeply worried about her illness. Large numbers of people are gathering at the hospital out of concern for her, but this is making the hospital authorities and the doctors very embarrassed.” He said the overwhelming number of visitors has made hospital staff and doctors uneasy, affecting the treatment of Khaleda Zia as well as other patients. “I sincerely request everyone not to gather at the hospital. I urge BNP leaders and activists, her well-wishers, and people across the country — please do not crowd the hospital,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Khaleda may be taken to London for treatment, says Mahdi Amin He said they will inform the public about her health condition through regular bulletins. “You will receive all updates in time. But once again, I request you all: please do not go there.” Leaders and activists from various BNP units have continued gathering at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka to enquire about the health of party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.  Despite the party’s request not to hold large gatherings, supporters continue to gather in the hospital area. The large number of visitors has caused traffic congestion nearby, and journalists covering the scene are also facing difficulties. Hospital authorities and law enforcement are monitoring the situation, but the crowd shows no sign of easing. BNP leaders and activists said they came to learn the latest updates about the condition of their beloved leader, who has been fighting for her life at the hospital. Earlier in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged party leaders, activists and the general public to refrain from gathering at Evercare Hospital, warning that large crowds are hampering the treatment of Begum Khaleda Zia and causing inconvenience to other patients. He also called upon everyone to pray for the BNP chairperson’s quick recovery. Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She is also suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), being treated by specialist doctors from both home and abroad. Read more: Khaleda responding to treatment: Dr Zahid