Air ambulance for Khaleda Zia to arrive Tuesday morning

The air ambulance chartered to take BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for advanced treatment has been granted clearence to land at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday morning.

The airport’s Executive Director, Group Captain S. M. Ragib Samad, confirmed the approval on Monday (December 8).

According to Ragib Samad, the air ambulance—operated by Germany-based FAI Aviation Group—is scheduled to land at 8:20am on Tuesday. If required, it will be able to depart for London anytime after 9:00pm the same day.

Civil aviation sources said FAI Aviation submitted a request proposing a Tuesday landing in Dhaka and a Wednesday departure for London.

However, whether Khaleda Zia can travel depends entirely on her current health condition. Her personal physician, A J M Zahid Hossain, reiterated on Saturday that the decision will be made based on her medical progress.

Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for more than two weeks. A source involved in discussions regarding her treatment and travel arrangements said doctors have pushed the possible travel date back by another two days, citing risks associated with long-distance air travel. Her ability to fly will depend on her condition over the next 24 to 48 hours.

As of last night, her condition showed neither significant improvement nor deterioration, the source added.

A medical board member said her diabetes, kidney, cardiac and lung complications fluctuate—sometimes stabilizing, sometimes worsening—making her condition unpredictable. Recent tests showed slight improvement in kidney and lung function, but doctors warned these gains are not enough to reduce overall risk. She is still not out of danger.

Due to this uncertainty, her travel date has been repeatedly rescheduled. BNP initially announced she would fly on 5 December, then shifted the date to 7 December. A new plan set 9 December as a possible departure, but that too has been delayed because of her unstable health.

The situation remains fluid, with the final decision hinging on her condition in the coming hours.