NN Online:
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has reached London, UK, for advanced medical treatment. The Royal Air Ambulance carrying her landed at Heathrow International Airport on Wednesday at 2:58pm Bangladesh time.
At the airport, Khaleda Zia was welcomed by her elder son and BNP’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, along with her daughter-in-law, Zubaida Rahman. This marked Tarique Rahman’s first face-to-face meeting with his mother in nearly seven years.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner to the UK Hazrat Ali Khan greeted Khaleda Zia with flowers at the airport.
Earlier on Tuesday, 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.
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. 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.
