Former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar has been admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suddenly falling ill en route to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Mirza Haider Ali, Babar’s personal assistant, said Babar, along with his son Labib Ibn Zaman, left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia via Dubai on an Emirates flight from Dhaka at 6pm on Thursday to perform Umrah.
He added that Babar fell severely ill with breathing difficulties while en route to Madina from Dhaka aboard the flight.
Haider said that after the plane landed in Dubai, the BNP leader was quickly taken to a clinic near the airport, where doctors advised immediate hospitalization after conducting a check-up.
"He is currently admitted to a hospital in Dubai and is under intensive observation by the doctors," he said.
Haider said Babar’s eldest son is with him at the hospital.
He added that Babar will go to Saudi Arabia from Dubai to perform Umrah after he is discharged from the hospital.
"Babar and his son Labib Ibn Zaman, left for Madina on an Emirates flight at 6pm. A few hours earlier, Babar’s wife and other family members had also departed for Madinah on a separate flight."
Upon reaching Madina, they (Babar's family) were informed that Babar had been hospitalized in Dubai, Haider said.
Babar had planned to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, starting in Madina and then proceeding to Makkah with his family.
Earlier, on January 19, Babar was admitted to United Hospital in the capital with chest pain and received treatment under close observation in its coronary care unit (CCU).
The former state minister was released from prison on January 16 after 17 years of incarceration, following his acquittal in all cases against him.