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 Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has long been suffering from several critical health conditions, finally left for London on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar to receive advanced treatment at The London Clinic.  The 79-year-old, three-time former prime minister, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:46pm, heading for London via Doha on the Qatar Royal Family's Airbus A319 air ambulance, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. 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. Khaleda left her Gulshan residence, "Firoza," at 8:15 PM, and her motorcade arrived at the airport at 10:51 PM. Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members, saw off Khaleda Zia at the airport. Sources at the UK Chapter of BNP said the former premier is expected to reach Heathrow Airport at 11:30am (London time) on Wednesday, after a one-hour stopover in the Qatari capital, Doha. They also said the authorities at Heathrow Airport will provide her with VIP protocol. Amid tight security from the police and other law enforcement agencies, thousands of leaders and activists escorted Khaleda Zia’s motorcade from her Gulshan residence to the airport. The entire route was filled with various slogans as the crowd waved their hands at every intersection and greeted their beloved leader. After bidding farewell to Khaleda Zia, the BNP Secretary General told reporters that Bangladesh's most popular leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, was jailed in false cases under the fascist Awami League government. During her time in prison, she became seriously ill and was subsequently admitted to the hospital. "We repeatedly requested the fascist Awami League government to allow her to go abroad for treatment, but fascist Hasina did not pay heed to it," Fakhrul said. "By the infinite mercy of Allah, after Hasina fled the country following a student-led mass uprising, our leader had today embarked on a journey to London for treatment, having been freed from all the false cases. We express our gratitude to Allah for this." The BNP leader expressed hope that Khaleda would return to the people of the country after receiving proper treatment. He said the BNP chief had urged the country's people to pray for her. Fakhrul said Khaleda prayed to Allah for the welfare of the country and its people. When asked what message she gave before leaving the country, he said Khaleda asked them to work towards establishing democracy and upholding the democratic system. 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. Meanwhile, thousands of BNP leaders and activists, along with members of its affiliated bodies, gathered along the footpaths from Gulshan-2, Kakoli, and Airport Road to bid farewell to the former Prime Minister. The party leaders and activists, in their thousands, also thronged in front of Khaleda’s Gulshan residence from the afternoon to see her off. 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. Read: Khaleda Zia Admitted to Evercare Hospital Khaleda’s doctors have been advocating for her treatment abroad ever since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021. 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. However, 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. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, his wife, and BNP leaders from the UK chapter will welcome Khaleda upon her arrival at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday. Tarique Rahman and his family have been living in London since 2008. This will be Khaleda’s first reunion with her son Tarique in seven years, and her first overseas visit since she was freed from jail. This will be Khaleda Zia’s second overseas medical trip, following her 2017 visit to London for treatment. On July 15, 2017, the BNP chief went to London and received treatment, spent time with her family members and celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with them during her three month stay there. From the airport, Khaleda will be directly admitted to “The London Clinic, an advanced medical centre in London, from the Heathrow Airport, said her physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain. He said the former prime minister will remain under care at The London Clinic, where doctors will assess her health and determine her next course of treatment. A special air ambulance dispatched by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, 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. 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. At a press conference on Monday, Dr Zahid said Khaleda has been suffering from various physical complications, including compensated liver cirrhosis (Grade 2), for which she previously underwent the TIPS procedure. “There’re some technical aspects of the TIPS, including the adjustments. We could not check it, and we have not been able to determine if the stenting set up in her heart is functioning properly... there are several blockages in her heart,” he said. The BNP leader also said Khaleda had earlier undergone angioplasty with stenting, but it is also necessary to address her other blockages. Read more: Khaleda gets pacemaker implanted at Evercare

The BNP public rally demanding the unconditional release of its ailing Chairperson Khaleda Zia has begun in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies. The rally formally began around 2:42 pm on Saturday (June 29, 2024) with the recitation from the holy Quran. BNP leaders and activists have started gathering before the party’s Nayapaltan central office with processions carrying banners, festoons, placards, and portraits of the party’s top leaders from different parts of Dhaka since morning braving bad weather to join the rally. Among the associate bodies, former Jubo Dal General Secretary Abdul Monayem Munna staged a showdown by joining the rally with a big procession. BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan to join rally demanding Khaleda’s unconditional release BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the program as the chief guest. Additional police have been deployed in Nayapaltan and its surrounding areas to maintain law and order. Earlier on Wednesday, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam announced a three-day countrywide program demanding the unconditional release of Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. As part of the programs, the party is holding the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office today. Besides, the BNP leader said their party will hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on July 1 and in all district headquarters on July 3. BNP, allies to launch simultaneous movement against govt soon: Fakhrul Khaleda Zia was rushed to Evercare Hospital in an ambulance at around 3:30 am on June 22 after suddenly falling ill at her Gulshan residence. A team of specialist doctors, led by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, successfully implanted a pacemaker in her chest the following day. She is now receiving treatment in a cabin with CCU facilities at the hospital. On June 11, 2022, Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with three blockages in her heart, one of which was 95% blocked and was treated with stent placement at that time. Khaleda, a former prime minister, aged 79, has long battled various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes. Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment frequently at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder. Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. BNP announces 3-day programme for Khaleda Zia's unconditional release Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail. Khaleda's doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021. On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia's stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) central office in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan was reopened this morning, nearly two and a half months after closure following clashes with police during the party’s grand rally on October 28, 2023. Some BNP leaders and activists, led by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, unlocked the collapsible gate of the office around 10:42 am. They entered the office while shouting various slogans in the name of party founder Ziaur Rahman and Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “We entered BNP’s central office by breaking the lock. A massive rally was foiled through a brutal crackdown by the government’s subservient law-enforcement agencies on October 28…later police locked the office,” said Rizvi. Read: BNP leader Fakhrul gets bail in 9 cases, 2 more cases pending  He said BNP’s standing committee members, led by Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, will hold a press conference — on the national election held on January 7 — at the office at 3 pm. The BNP leader said they will now clean the office for holding the press meet. After the party’s grand rally was foiled halfway through on October 28 at Nayapaltan amid clashes with police, the collapsible gate of the BNP's office was closed with the deployment of a huge number of law enforcers in the area. Members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) marked the areas in front of the main gate of the BNP office with the crime scene tape inscribed with "Do not cross” to collect evidence for investigation into severe political violence. Later, the CID's Crime Scene Unit collected evidence from the site and later removed the crime scene tape. Read: BNP to continue street agitation until demands are met: Rizvi  Following the clashes, law enforcers launched a crackdown on senior BNP leaders and activists, and arrested BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and several other leaders, forcing most of them to go into hiding to avoid arrest. Though thousands of BNP leaders and activists brought out a Victory Day rally on December 16 in Nayapaltan, they did not reopen their central office. BNP finally reopened the office four days after the 12th parliamentary election that was boycotted by most opposition parties.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisor and the party’s Vice Chairman Md Habibur Rahman Habib. RAB arrested the BNP leader from Dhaka’s Mirpur DOHS area early today (November 21, 2023) in connection with a case filed for contempt of court, RAB-2 Senior Assistant Director (Media) ASP Shihab Karim informed the media. Read: 562 arrested by RAB on charges of sabotage since Oct 28 He was handed over to Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Police Station this morning for further legal action against him, added the RAB official. Earlier, the High Court asked Habibur Rahman to appear before the court on November 6 and explain his “derogatory remarks” about a judge of the High Court on social media. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the suo moto order. The court issued a rule seeking explanation as to why punitive action should not be taken against the BNP leader for contempt of court. Read: RAB arrests 4, including Sramik Dal leader, from Dhaka's Jatrabari in sabotage case Talking about BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment Habibur said in a video, “I want to take an oath that the day when this government will be not be in power, even if Justice Akhtaruzzaman is alive, he will have to die, even if he dies, the body will be exhumed from the grave.”

Detectives have detained 200 leaders and activists of BNP, believed to have gathered for the party’s grand rally today, from an under-construction building in Dhaka’s Kakrail area early today (October 28, 2023). Salahuddin Mia, officer-in-charge of Paltan Model Police Station, said a team of Detective Branch (DB) police conducted a drive in Kakrail at night. Harun-or-Rashid, additional commissioner of DB under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said some crude bombs were exploded in the area. AL, BNP get conditional permission for rallies After hearing the sounds of explosion, police and DB conducted a drive at an under-construction building and detained 200 leaders and activists of BNP, he said. They came from different parts of the country ahead of BNP’s grand rally, he added. BNP and its allies set to hold rallies as part of their ‘final push’ Police also recovered a vehicle owned by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, placards, cooking items, sticks, iron rods and some unexploded crude bombs from the spot, the DB official said. Rajib Al Masud, deputy commissioner of DB Motijheel Division, said that 15-20 bombs were hurled from the under-construction building targeting police around 1:30 am. “Police are trying to arrest those involved in the incident,” he said. Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies Two policemen were injured in the explosion and they were taken to Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital, said Harun. “Our goal was to ensure that no one creates any untoward incident centering BNP’s grand rally. There are 7-8 such buildings and many people have gathered in those buildings, from what we’ve heard. We’ll conduct drives there as well,” he added.

The medical board at Evercare Hospital on Monday recommended that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia be urgently sent to a multidisciplinary center abroad soon as there are now no treatment options available for her in Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference at the hospital, the board also said the 78-year-old former prime minister’s life is at risk because of a lack of proper treatment to stop water accretion in her stomach and chest, internal bleeding and infections caused by her liver cirrhosis problem. “Begum Khaleda Zia has been admitted here for the fourth time…her condition is complicated,” the chief of the medical board, Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, said. Read: Khaleda’s doctors to hold press conference on ex-PM's condition Monday He said a critical patient like Khaleda could collapse suddenly as she has been suffering from various diseases.  “Madam (Khaleda) has heart disease with a stent (placed into a coronary artery) and two blockages. So, there’s a chance of collapsing when the fluid is removed (from her stomach and lungs). She had to be taken to the CCU to get the water out. This is the reality,” he said. Dr FM Siddique, a member of the medical board, said the BNP chairperson is not getting the treatment she needs at the moment for liver cirrhosis. He said, “We’ve done all that we can. She needs to be taken to any advanced centre abroad  for necessary treatment.” Siddique said the opposition BNP chief’s condition is gradually worsening because of a lack of “proper treatment.” Read: No politics behind denying permission for Khaleda’s treatment abroad: Law Minister He said Khaleda is now facing water accretion in her stomach and chest, infections, and a small amount of bleeding in her stomach. “This time she was given four bags of blood in the hospital. The actual situation is very complex and difficult. We have now reached a situation where we have no more option to treat her (in the country),” the physician said. He lamented that a curable disease cannot be treated in the country due to lack of an advanced medical centre in Bangladesh. Siddique said though Khaleda’s condition is slowly getting worse, the time is not over yet to treat her abroad. “As per the medical board’s unanimous decision, I want to convey to all concerned that there’s still time to treat her with the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and also to transplant her liver at any advanced multidisciplinary center abroad. Perhaps, we still have this option to improve her condition,” the doctor said. He said TIPS is necessary immediately to stop water from accumulating in her stomach and chest and internal bleeding. “TIPS is a live savings procedure which is not available in Bangladesh. Liver transplantation is also not possible in Bangladesh either." Another medical board member Professor AKM Mohsin said liver transplantation cannot be done in Bangladesh for lack of required setup, equipment, and manpower. “One or two livers were transplanted here (Bangladesh) on an experimental basis. But we don't have the setup and required manpower for liver transplantation here. We don't have such surgery here," he said. Mentioning that Khaleda Zia's condition is critical, Prof Mohsin said there is no setup in Bangladesh for her treatment with TRIPS and for her liver transplantation. Professor Nuruddin Ahmed, another medical board member said the BNP chief has been suffering from many diseases, including liver cirrhosis. “Liver cirrhosis causes many serious complications such as abdominal bleeding and water accretion in her stomach and chest.” He said infection caused by ascites is also a serious complication that put Khaleda’s life at risk. Ahmed voiced concern that high doses of antibiotics are not working on Khaleda due to their frequent use.  "In his critical condition, we are not allowing her to be taken home as carious complications and infections are appearing.” BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka under the supervision of a 15-member medical board, led by a specialist doctor, Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, since August 9. She has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems. On September 5, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskandar submitted an application to the government, seeking her unconditional release and permission to take her abroad for treatment at an “advanced medical center” on an urgent basis to save her life. However, the law ministry denied permission to take her abroad for better treatment, suggesting that she must first return to jail to serve her graft sentence and then apply to the court to get permission in this regard. Law Minister Anisul Huq said there is no chance to open the petition, which has already been disposed of as per Section 401 of the CrPC. “We gave the opinion that the petition disposed under Section 401 is a past and closed transaction. There is no other scope to open it,” he said. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Later, the government extended the tenure of suspension of Khaleda’s sentence for the eighth time.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday (October 04, 2023) said there was no politics in not letting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia go abroad for treatment. "It's a legal matter, there's no question of politics here. Her (Khaleda Zia's) family had filed an application, which has been disposed of. It was not in the law that she will be allowed to go abroad through this application. There was already a condition that she cannot go abroad, now there is no chance of changing it,” he said. Read: BNP-leaning United Lawyers’ Forum to boycott Chief Justice's reception The law minister said these at a press conference at the Secretariat. “BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presented false, baseless and misleading information over the matter at a press conference,” he alleged. Asked whether there is any scope to change Khaleda Zia's conditional release, the law minister said if the condition is given, it should be obeyed. “I think the prime minister has done whatever is possible through exercising her power, there is no scope to use the power again.” Replying to another question the law minister said if anyone seeks prudential clemency, he/she has to confess the guilt. “. It is a constitutional right that anyone can appeal to the president.” Read: BNP plotting to form 1/11-like government: Quader On October 1, the Law Ministry rejected an application of Khaleda Zia’s family seeking permission for sending her abroad for treatment. On September 18, the government once again extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term by another six months. Read: BNP will miss election bus if they stick to one-point demand: Salman F Rahman The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

The Law Ministry has rejected an application seeking permission for sending BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. The Law Ministry gave this opinion upon receiving an application sent by the Home Ministry in response to the request of the family of the former prime minister, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq told reporters at the secretariat on Sunday. Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday (September 30, 2023) said there are legal complications regarding allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to be taken abroad for treatment. Also read: Govt sincere to ensure Khaleda Zia gets best treatment: Hasan Mahmud The home minister said that Khaleda Zia was convicted in several cases and she had been in jail. But following the appeal of her relatives, the prime minister suspended her sentence and arranged treatment at home. Arrangements have been made for her to receive the best treatment possible, he said at an event at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) building in Dhaka. He said that Khaleda Zia’s brother made an appeal to take her abroad, but there are some legal complications. On September 24, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir  issued an ultimatum to the government to take necessary steps to send BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment within 48 hours, or be held responsible should anything happen to her. Also read: Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital On September 18, the government has once again extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term by another six months. The Security Services Division under the Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard. Khaleda Zia has to take treatment from her Dhaka residence and she will not be allowed to go abroad during this period, said the notification. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) from a cabin on Friday afternoon. Also read: Application must be submitted to Home Ministry to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment: Law Minister "Khaleda Zia was transferred to the CCU in the afternoon as per the recommendation of her medical board,” said her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain. The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension will have to be revoked first and she needs to go to jail again if she wants to go abroad for treatment. She said this during an interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA) aired on Saturday (September 30, 2023). The prime minister, now on a visit to the US, responded to a number of questions on US Visa sanction, human rights, Khaleda’s treatment abroad, caretaker government, the constitution and other issues. Khaleda Zia has been kept captive to remain in power: Fakhrul When asked about the possibility of reconsidering the decision to send Khaleda abroad for improved medical care, she said,  “My question is, which country in the world can send a convicted criminal abroad for better treatment? Will any country allow it?” “If they want to apply, they have to go to the court and take court permission. We have no authority over work of the judiciary," she stated. Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital “But yes, we have suspended her jail term, given permission to stay at home. And she is taking treatment now in the most expensive hospital in Bangladesh. If they need to go abroad, the permission to stay at home would first need to be revoked, she will need to return to prison again, and court. Only after obtaining court permission could she travel abroad,” she said. Khaleda under close observation of medical board; no improvement, say doctors