President off to London for medical checkup

President Abdul Hamid has left Dhaka for London for health checkup and treatment. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the president took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11am on Saturday, his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told UNB. Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali, Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Dean of Diplomatic Crops Archbishop George Kocherry, the cabinet secretary, chiefs of three services, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, British High Commissioner in Dhaka, and other civil and military officials saw off the president. Abdul Hamid is scheduled to have his checkup at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Bupa Cromwell Hospital. He is expected to return home on October 29. The 74-year-old president underwent health checkup at London earlier in April.