The plan to take critically ill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for advanced treatment now depends on her health condition, as the Emir of Qatar has arranged a special air ambulance from Germany after technical issues with the earlier one.

The medical board treating the BNP chief decided on Wednesday night that she could be taken abroad, based on some improvement in her condition.

However, as her condition worsened slightly on Thursday night, the board will now review her situation again, said one of its members, wishing not to be named.

Although Khaleda was supposed to be flown to London today (Friday), the flight has been delayed due to technical issues with the air ambulance arranged by Qatar and the slight deterioration in her health.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda will be taken on the air ambulance only if doctors confirm she is fit to fly.

Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning to accompany Khaleda on the medical trip.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury and other party sources said the originally scheduled air ambulance could not be sent due to technical problems.

They said the Qatari government will now send a replacement aircraft, but its exact arrival time will depend on the medical board’s approval.

“If the board confirms that Khaleda Zia is fit to fly, the aircraft may reach Dhaka around 5:00pm on Saturday. Even then, the doctors on board will also check whether she is fit for the journey. If all goes well over the next 36 hours, she could be flown to London on Sunday,” said a senior BNP leader.

A spokesman at the Embassy of Qatar in Dhaka told UNB that a special air ambulance, being facilitated by the Emir of Qatar, will arrive in Dhaka from Germany instead of Qatar to carry Khaleda to London for treatment if her condition permits her to travel abroad.

“It will now come from Germany with support from Qatar,” he said.

He did not mention any specific arrival time, indicating that BNP will decide when they need the air ambulance. It was initially expected to come from Qatar.

Talking to reporters after Jum’a prayers at a mosque near BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka, Mirza Fakhrul said doctors are making every effort to improve Khaleda’s condition.

“If the air ambulance arrives on Saturday, and if the medical board agrees, she can be taken to London on Sunday,” he said.

Special prayers were held across the country on Friday seeking the speedy recovery of Khaleda, who is currently undergoing treatment in the CCU of Evercare Hospital in a critical condition.

Prayers were offered at mosques nationwide after Jum’a prayers at the initiative of BNP.

As part of the programme, BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, attended a doa mahfil at the Nayapaltan Jam-e-Mosque.

Air ambulance for Khaleda to arrive from Germany: Embassy

Fakhrul said prayers were also offered in villages, towns and districts by BNP leaders, its front and associate bodies, and ordinary people. The party also urged prayers at temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship.

After the prayers, Fakhrul told journalists that their party chief remains in a serious condition.

He said highly experienced doctors from both home and abroad are treating her and believe she needs more advanced care, which is why arrangements are being made to shift her to a hospital in England.

Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia dedicated her life to the struggle for democracy. “She was kept in the central jail for a long time, and it is suspected her illness began there. Her condition worsened due to lack of proper treatment.”

He recalled that Khaleda became seriously ill during the Covid-19 period and suffered for nearly four years. “By the grace of Almighty Allah, she recovered for a while, but over the past few days her condition has deteriorated again.”

Earlier talking to UNB, Fakhrul said Khaleda’s planned flight to London was delayed because the Qatar air ambulance did not arrive in time due to technical issues, and also because her condition worsened.

“It was not only the aircraft issue — her health condition was also a factor. Her condition deteriorated a bit yesterday (Thursday),” he said.

Khaleda’s daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Dhaka around 10:45am on Friday on a flight from London. From the airport, she rushed to Evercare Hospital to be by her mother-in-law’s side.

BNP Media Cell member Atiqur Rahman Rumon said she left Evercare Hospital at 2:47pm for her parental home.

“She came straight to Evercare from London and was at Khaleda Zia’s bedside. She also met doctors to discuss Madam’s latest health condition,” he said.

Later, Rumon said, she went to her father’s house in Dhanmondi, where her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu lives.

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

As of Friday evening, her health remains unchanged under close supervision, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Zubaida visits Dhanmondi parental home after seeing ailing Khaleda

Her treatment is being carried out under a medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukdar, including both local and international specialists.

Earlier this year, on January 8, Khaleda was flown to London in a Qatari air ambulance for advanced treatment and received care at London Clinic. 

She returned to Bangladesh four months later, on May 6, in the same air ambulance.