The return date of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing medical treatment in London, United Kingdom, has been postponed by one day.
She will now return to the country on Tuesday, May 6th, instead of the previously scheduled May 5th.
Shayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP Chairperson's media wing, confirmed the matter at around 11:30 PM on Saturday (May 3rd).
He stated that Professor Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain, the chairperson's personal physician and a standing committee member of the BNP, informed them, under the directive of the BNP Secretary General, that Madam Zia would depart from London on May 5th and arrive in Dhaka on May 6th.
He further added that Khaleda Zia would leave London on a special air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar and reach Bangladesh the following day.
Earlier, the BNP had announced that Khaleda Zia would return to the country on a regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. However, the party later retracted this decision.
Meanwhile, after a joint meeting of the party at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office on Saturday evening, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that Khaleda Zia had received medical treatment at a hospital in the UK for four months.
Following that, she continued treatment under the supervision of doctors at her son Tarique Rahman's residence. Her condition has improved daily, and she is currently feeling much better, leading to her decision to return home.
Mirza Fakhrul said that the BNP Chairperson would return to the country on a royal Qatari air ambulance, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law. He added that everyone is emotional and jubilant, and all are prepared to welcome Khaleda Zia.
During this time, the BNP Secretary General requested the general public to avoid the road from the airport to Kakoli and to use the elevated expressway for Begum Zia's arrival and reception.
According to sources, Khaleda Zia was arrested in 2018 under the then Sheikh Hasina government in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and was imprisoned in the old Dhaka Central Jail.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the government released her on special consideration. However, she was effectively under house arrest.
Following the ouster of the Awami League government on August 5th last year amid student and public protests, Khaleda Zia was released under an order from President Md. Shahabuddin.
Subsequently, the court overturned the verdicts in the two corruption cases for which she had been imprisoned.
Khaleda Zia was then taken to London on January 8th this year for advanced medical treatment. She received treatment at a London clinic for 17 consecutive days.
Afterward, on January 25th, she was transferred to Tarique Rahman's residence. This year, after more than half a decade, the BNP Chairperson celebrated Eid with her family members.
