Khaleda Zia's London travel postponed again over air ambulance delay, health concerns
The scheduled departure of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for London for advanced treatment has been postponed for the third time due to delays in the arrival of a Qatari air ambulance and her current physical condition.
A BNP source said the new air ambulance, arranged through Qatar, was originally set to land in Dhaka on 6 December but the schedule has been shifted to 9 December. The initial plan was for the flight to depart Dhaka for London on 10 December.
Khaleda Zia's personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar said, "Madam's travel to London has been delayed. I cannot specify a new date at this moment. She will be taken any day after the air ambulance arrives."
A BNP physician noted that Khaleda Zia's health has remained stable over the past few days. However, the delay in the air ambulance's arrival, coupled with assessments of her suitability for air travel, are being considered.
Earlier, on Thursday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had stated that Khaleda Zia's London travel could not take place that day due to mechanical issues preventing the Qatari royal air ambulance from reaching Dhaka. He indicated a possibility of the ambulance arriving on Saturday, with travel to London on the following Sunday if her condition permits.
On the same day, Press Wing member Shairul Kabir Khan said the special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar for Khaleda Zia's transfer to London for treatment was facing technical problems, leading to a delay in takeoff. Although it was scheduled to land in Dhaka overnight, the timeline changed due to these complications, with further updates on departure from Qatar to be announced later.
Previously, on Thursday evening (4 December), Fakhrul announced at a press conference at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office that a state-of-the-art air ambulance, provided on the personal initiative of the Emir of Qatar and equipped with an operation theatre and all necessary advanced medical facilities, had been sent for her.
