Preparations are underway to take Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former prime minister, to London for advanced medical treatment.
As part of this process, the Passport Department has renewed her Machine Readable Passport (MRP) and handed it over to her. The BNP has already informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about her upcoming trip abroad.
Party leaders have said that Khaleda Zia is being taken abroad for better treatment based on the decision of her medical board. Her treatment process will commence in London, and her family and team have been in contact with several hospitals there.
It is reported that doctors are making all necessary preparations to ensure Khaleda Zia has no physical issues when traveling by plane. Party leaders are coordinating various responsibilities to facilitate the process. Experts are assessing whether she should travel in a medical-equipped cabin on an air ambulance or advanced aircraft.
Khaleda Zia will finalize her travel plans once all flight-related arrangements are completed.
When asked about her trip abroad, her personal physician, Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, told Dhaka Tribune: “Her health condition has slightly improved. We are considering taking her to the UK and are in discussions with several hospitals there, which is taking some time.”
Most recently, on September 12, Khaleda Zia was hospitalized due to health issues and was admitted for treatment based on her medical board's advice. After a week of treatment, she returned to her residence "Firoza" in Gulshan on September 18.
A message sent by the BNP’s press wing on October 14 indicated that she would be taken to the hospital in the afternoon, but a later update announced that the visit had been postponed. Earlier, on July 7, Khaleda Zia was admitted to the hospital due to deteriorating health and returned home on August 21.
Khaleda Zia developed various health complications after being imprisoned in a graft case in 2018. On March 25, 2020, the Awami League government suspended her sentence through an executive order and released her under certain conditions. Since then, her release has been extended periodically based on applications made every six months.
The 78-year-old former Prime Minister has been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney issues, and liver cirrhosis for a long time, leading to multiple hospitalizations.
During the previous Awami League government, there were repeated requests and appeals for her to be taken abroad for treatment, but the former government did not grant permission. Despite several requests from her family to the government, approval was not forthcoming.
On October 27, 2023, three specialist doctors from the United States performed surgery on her blood vessels at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Khaleda Zia was released under an executive order on August 6.
Dr. Al-Mamun, a member of her medical board, said: “An air ambulance will be brought in from abroad for her. Once she is a bit fitter, we will determine the date for her travel. Besides liver cirrhosis, Khaleda Zia has several other complications, and a full-body check-up will be necessary to address those. The decision to proceed with a liver transplant cannot be made immediately; her physical condition will guide our actions.”
When asked about her condition, Shamsuddin Didar, a member of the BNP chairperson's press wing, told Dhaka Tribune: “Madam’s health is currently stable. She will be taken abroad very soon. All processes have already begun, including obtaining passports and visas. She has requested the nation’s prayers.”