Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar has been admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suddenly falling ill en route to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

Mirza Haider Ali, Babar’s personal assistant said Babar, along with his son Labib Ibn Zaman left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia via Dubai on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dhaka at 6pm on Thursday to perform Umrah.

He said Babar fell severely ill with breathing difficulties while en route to Madinah from Dhaka aboard the Emirates Airlines flight.

After the plane landed in Dubai, Haider said, the BNP leader was quickly taken to a clinic near the airport, where doctors advised immediate hospitalisation after conducting a check-up.

"He is currently admitted to a hospital in Dubai and is under intensive observation by the doctors," he said.

Haider said Babar’s eldest son is with him at the hospital.

Read: BNP’s Babar under close observation in United Hospital

He said Babar will go to Saudi Arabia form Dubai to perform Umrah after he is discharged from the hospital.

Haider said Babar and his son Labib Ibn Zaman, left for Madinah on an Emirates flight at 6pm.

A few hours earlier, Babar’s wife and other family members had also departed for Madinah on a separate flight.

Upon reaching Madinah, they were informed that Babar had been hospitalised in Dubai, Haider said.

Babar had planned to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, starting in Madinah and then proceeding to Makkah with his family.

Read more: Babar breaks down in tears at Ziaur Rahman’s grave

Earlier on January 19, Babar was admitted to United Hospital in the capital with chest pain and received treatment under close observation in its Coronary Care Unit (CCU).

The former state minister was released from prison on January 16 after 17 years of incarceration, following his acquittal in all cases against him.