The air ambulance arranged to take former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to London has received clearance to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and is scheduled to arrive shortly after 8am on Tuesday.
SM Ragib Samad, executive director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, confirmed the matter to reporters.
A senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said the aircraft has been granted landing permission between 8am and 8:30am and is expected to depart Dhaka around 9pm. However, the schedule may change depending on the assessment and preparedness of Khaleda Zia’s medical team.
According to sources, the air ambulance has been hired from German-based FAI Aviation Group under the patronage of the government of Qatar.
Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since November 23.
A medical board, comprising doctors from London and China, has been overseeing her treatment. Although plans are in place to take her to London for advanced care, she will be flown abroad only after the medical board gives the green signal.
Earlier this year, on January 7, Khaleda Zia was taken to London for advanced treatment in an air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. After receiving treatment at a London clinic for four months, she returned to Bangladesh on May 5 in the same air ambulance.
