A ‘special air ambulance’ flight sent by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has arrived at the VIP tarmac of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to transport BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for medical treatment.
Enamul Haque Chowdhury, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, confirmed that the plane arrived overnight from Doha, the Qatari capital.
“This special air ambulance has been sent by His Highness the Emir of Qatar after hearing about Madam’s illness. I was at the airport myself last night. Four doctors and paramedics are onboard the royal air ambulance, and it is now under strict security,” he said.
He further explained that the plane is equipped with the latest medical facilities, equipment, machinery, and laboratory, capable of providing quick reports as per the doctors’ instructions.
Khaleda’s personal physician, AZM Zahid Hossain, said, “We will depart for London at 10 pm tonight as per the schedule.” He added, “Madam will leave for the airport from her Gulshan residence ‘Firoza’ by 8 pm. There will be a stopover in Doha before reaching London. Inshallah, everything is proceeding smoothly, and if it continues like this, we will take off by 10 pm.”
In addition to the four physicians and paramedics from Qatar’s royal medical team, at least six members of Khaleda’s medical board will accompany her. They are Prof Shahabuddin Talukdar, Prof FM Siddique, Prof Nuruddin Ahmed, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, and Dr Mohammed Al Mamun.
Khaleda’s daughter-in-law Syeda Shamila Rahman, Enamul Haque Chowdhury, BNP Executive Committee member Tabith Awal, her Personal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and other staff members will also accompany her.
The 79-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from liver cirrhosis, cardiac disease, kidney problems, and other health issues for an extended period.
Khaleda will be admitted to The London Clinic in the UK for advanced treatment, according to her doctors.
