United News of Bangladesh

The air ambulance, equipped with all emergency facilities for a critical patient, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying bullet-hit Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi to Singapore for advanced treatment on Monday (December 15, 2025). The ambulance, operated by Aspro Aviation, took off from the airport at 1:55pm, said SM Ragib Samad, executive director of the airport.  Earlier, the ambulance landed at 11:22am. Read more: Govt to bear all costs for Hadi’s overseas treatment: Salehuddin Meanwhile, an ambulance carrying Hadi arrived at the airport from the Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara area.    The decision to send Hadi abroad for treatment was taken on Sunday. The press wing of the Chief Adviser’s office said that necessary preparations, including the medical air ambulance, a team of doctors, and travel arrangements, had been completed. Arrangements for his treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Singapore General Hospital have also been made. It was also stated that the government will bear all medical expenses for Hadi’s treatment. Hadi to be flown to Singapore on Monday: CA’s Press Wing The Chief Adviser has instructed authorities concerned to monitor his treatment process around the clock, seeking prayers from the nation for Hadi’s speedy recovery. Over the past two days, the government contacted several hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to arrange for Hadi’s advanced treatment. According to Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on health matters, Hadi’s current condition remains stable and unchanged. Hadi, spokesman of the Inquilab Mancho, was attacked on Friday in Bijoynagar Box Culvert area of Dhaka while traveling in a rickshaw. The assailants on a motorcycle shot at his head with intent to kill and fled. He is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Read more: Hadi shooting: DUCSU leaders march to Home Adviser’s office

An air ambulance, equipped with all emergency facilities for a critical patient, has landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to take bullet-hit Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi to Singapore for advance treatment. The ambulance landed today (December 15, 2025) at 11:22am, the airport authorities said. They said if all goes as planned, the air ambulance operated by Aspro Aviation, will depart for Singapore at noon with Hadi on board. The decision to send Hadi abroad for treatment was taken on Sunday (December 14, 2025). Read more: RAB arrests three more in Hadi shooting case The press wing of the Chief Adviser’s office said that necessary preparations, including the medical air ambulance, a team of doctors, and travel arrangements, had been completed. Arrangements for his treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Singapore General Hospital have also been made. It was also stated that the government will bear all medical expenses for Hadi’s treatment. The Chief Adviser has instructed authorities concerned to monitor his treatment process around the clock, seeking prayers from the nation for Hadi’s speedy recovery. Over the past two days, the government contacted several hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to arrange for Hadi’s advanced treatment. According to Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on health matters, Hadi’s current condition remains stable and unchanged. Read more: Hadi to be flown to Singapore on Monday: CA’s Press Wing Hadi, spokesman of the Inquilab Mancho, was attacked on Friday in Bijoynagar Box Culvert area of Dhaka while traveling in a rickshaw. The assailants on a motorcycle shot at his head with intent to kill and fled. He is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, will not be flown to London for the time being as her health has not improved sufficiently for travel. A member of her medical board, wishing anonymity, told UNB on Monday (December 08, 2025) that Khaleda Zia’s recovery is still not at the level needed for an air trip. “Whenever one complication improves, another appears. While one health parameter is under control, another rises,” the doctor said. He said while her long-standing liver complication is being managed, the medical board remains concerned about her kidney problem. “So, our medical team has decided not to send her abroad until her condition improves further.” Read more: Khaleda’s London medical trip 'depends on her health condition' Khaleda Zia, 80, has been treated at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) on November 27 due to multiple health complications. Her treatment is supervised by a board led by cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, including specialists from Evercare Hospital and from the UK, USA, and China. The former prime minister has long been suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney, liver, lung, heart, and eye problems. Currently, a medical board of around two dozen local and foreign specialists meets daily at Evercare to adjust her treatment. Another board member said her health is not worsening, but she is still at risk. “Advanced care is being given in the CCU. Each night, the board reviews her condition. Specialists discuss individual issues, adjust medications, change doses, or stop and restart medicines as needed.” He said Khaleda’s daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s wife, attends the board meetings in person while meals are sent daily from her Gulshan home as advised by the doctors. Read more: Air ambulance delay likely to push Khaleda Zia’s London travel to Sunday Air Ambulance Not Arriving Tuesday The air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar to fly Khaleda Zia to London will not arrive on Tuesday either as the operator has asked to cancel its previously approved landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said Germany-based FAI Aviation Group submitted a formal request through a local agency to withdraw its earlier landing slot. Earlier, CAAB had approved the ambulance to land in Dhaka on Tuesday morning. The BNP had planned to fly Khaleda Zia to London on Friday for advanced treatment in a special air ambulance from Qatar. However, the flight was first delayed due to a “technical issue,” and later the Qatari embassy said the Emir’s special ambulance would not come and promised a replacement aircraft from Germany. BNP has not yet confirmed when the new air ambulance will arrive or when Khaleda Zia will be flown to London. Read more: Khaleda’s London trip to be delayed until she’s fit: Dr Zahid

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s travel to London for advanced treatment will be delayed until she is medically declared fit to travel by an air ambulance, her personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said on Saturday. “Her travel abroad is being delayed, and in the future, her medical condition will determine when she can be taken for treatment,” he said. Briefing reporters about Khaleda’s latest health condition outside Evercare Hospital, Dr Zahid said the air ambulance is always ready to carry the BNP chief. “But even though it is ready, the highest priority is the proper medical care, safety, and security of Begum Khaleda Zia.” He said the highest-level of preparations for her travel have been made, but her condition must be suitable for the long flight. “The doctors are closely monitoring her and will decide when it is safe for her to go.” Dr Zahid explained that the air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar has not yet arrived due to technical issues. At the same time, he said the medical board, after an urgent meeting, decided that it was not safe for Khaleda Zia to fly at this moment. “That is why her travel abroad has been delayed.” “Our medical board includes specialists from Bangladesh, the UK, the US, and even as far as China. They are giving the utmost importance to her physical condition. We all want her to recover – the doctors, the party, and the people of Bangladesh,” he said. Zahid, also a BNP Standing Committee member, urged people not to spread rumours about her condition. “I kindly request everyone, out of respect and love for the national leader, not to circulate any false news or mislead others. Please pray to Allah for her health.” “By Allah’s mercy,” he said, “Khaleda recovered from difficult situations in the past. With your prayers, Inshallah, she will recover from this as well.” Read more: Tarique Rahman may return home anytime: Amir Khosru Dr Zahid also said the medical board is fully prepared for her travel, but they will only approve it when they are confident she can be safely transferred. “Flying 12 to 14 hours at high altitude can affect a patient’s condition. We are making sure it will be safe before any decision is made.” He said everyone in the country —doctors, and people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs— want Khaleda Zia to recover.   Zahid said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is closely monitoring all matters related to her treatment, giving top priority to the recommendations of the medical board.” The party, he added, is fully supporting the doctors’ decisions.” Recalling the challenges of the past years, Dr Zahid said the medical board has treated Khaleda Zia under extremely difficult circumstances for the last six years.  Everyone has witnessed what they have had to go through, he noted, praising the doctors for handling her care with professionalism and determination. The physician expressed gratitude for both international and local assistance in arranging her possible transfer abroad. “The Qatar government and the interim government, he said, are providing support at the highest level to help ensure she can receive treatment overseas.” Read more: Air ambulance delay may slightly push back Khaleda Zia’s departure Zahid said the Evercare Hospital authorities and all staff —whether directly involved in her treatment or not— are offering full cooperation for the BNP chief’s medical care. He apologised for any inconvenience caused to other patients and their families due to the situation at the hospital, saying some may have faced difficulties because many BNP colleagues have gathered out of emotion. Zahid asked for continued cooperation, without which, he said, it would be hard to continue her treatment smoothly. He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman is also present in Dhaka, actively assisting in Khaleda Zia’s treatment. Khaleda has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on November 27 with multiple health complications. Dr Zubaida Rahman — also a member of the medical board — arrived in Dhaka from London to accompany her mother-in-law abroad once she is cleared to fly. Read more: Qatar Emir’s air ambulance awaits nod for Khaleda Zia’s travel

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who left Dhaka on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar, has reached London to receive advanced treatment at The London Clinic. The special air ambulance landed at Heathrow International Airport at 2:55 pm (Bangladsh time) , BNP Media Cell Member Sayrul Kabir Khan  told UNB. The 79-year-old, three-time former prime minister, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:46pm on Tuesday, heading for London via Doha on the Qatar Royal Family's Airbus A319 air ambulance. Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom Hazrat Ali Khan greeted Khaleda Zia with a bouquet. The air ambulance took off 1 hour and 46 minutes late, as Khaleda's convoy moved slowly amidst the huge crowd of BNP leaders and activists lining the streets. Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members, saw off Khaleda Zia at the airport. The special air ambulance carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also transported four Royal Qatari doctors and paramedics. Besides, six members of Khaleda Zia's medical board—Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, Professor FM Siddique, Professor Naruddin Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, and Dr. Mohammad Al Mamun— were accompanying her on the flight. Khaleda's entourage also included her daughter-in-law, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, the wife of her late son Arafat Rahman Koko, advisory council member Enamul Haque Chowdhury, executive committee member Tabith Awal, private secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, along with other personal staff and employees. Read: Khaleda finally off to London for treatment  To ensure security during Khaleda’s departure, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) took special measures, including deployment of an adequate number of law enforcement personnel from the Airport Armed Police, RAB, DMP, DB and SWAT teams. Khaleda’s doctors have been advocating for her treatment abroad ever since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021.  

BNP on Thursday described the seizure of the vehicle of Ron Haque Sikder, managing director of Sikdar Group, who left the country with his brother in an air ambulance a few days ago, as 'the best joke of the year'.