BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is schedule to return home on a regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Monday (5 May) after a four-month stay in London for advanced medical treatment.
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Khaleda Zia is scheduled to take off from London's Heathrow Airport at 6 pm local time on May 4, 2025.
She is expected to be accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, Dr Zubaida Rahman and Syeda Sharmila Rahman, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
"Insha'Allah, madam will return on the morning of May 5 (Monday). As far as we know, her two daughters-in-law are also expected to accompany her," Fakhrul said.
When asked about her health, Mirza Fakhrul said, "Alhamdulillah, she is definitely doing better than before."
BNP Chairperson's press wing member Shamsuddin Didar told The Daily Observer that, "The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight is scheduled to depart from London via Sylhet and land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka."
He said, "The Biman Bangladesh Airlines authorities, decided to change the flight route to London-Dhaka-Sylhet, considering the physical condition of the ailing Begum Khaleda Zia."
"After coming to know about the decision Khaleda Zia asked the Bangladesh Biman authorities to change the decision and operate the flight via London-Sylhet-Dhaka as per the flight rules," said Didar.
Khaleda Zia travelled to London on 8 January in a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar.
Upon arrival, she was admitted to the London Clinic, a private hospital in London, where she remained under the supervision of renowned specialists Professor Patrick Kennedy and Professor Jennifer Cross for 17 days.
Since 25 January, she has been receiving treatment at the residence of her elder son Tarique Rahman.
This year, for the first time in over half a decade, Khaleda Zia celebrated Eid with her family members in London.
BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan said Khaleda's Gulshan residence 'Firoza' has been cleaned and made ready as she is returning home.
Khaleda's personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar said, "We are completing all necessary preparations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities have been informed about Madam's return."
Last week, Mirza Fakhrul formally informed the Interim Government's Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain of Khaleda Zia's planned return in a letter.
Later, both the Bangladesh High Commissions in London and Doha have reportedly been engaged in facilitating her journey home.
Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018 under the then Sheikh Hasina-led government following a conviction in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government temporarily released her on an executive order, suspending her sentence on the condition that she remain at her Gulshan residence and not leave the country.
On 6 August 2023, Khaleda Zia was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Tarique Rahman, Dr Zubaida and their daughter Zaima Rahman have been living in London since 2008.
