A German air ambulance arranged under the initiative of the Qatar government is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday (5 November) to take former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical treatment. The aircraft is expected to land in Dhaka in the afternoon, after which it may depart for London with Khaleda Zia on Saturday evening or night.

Asadur Rahman Asad, Public Relations Officer at the Qatar Embassy in Dhaka, confirmed the development.

He stated that an air ambulance arranged by the Qatar government is flying in from Germany, and it is scheduled to land in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.

According to diplomatic sources, a CL60 (Bombardier Challenger 600 series) jet operated by German private air ambulance company FAI Rent-a-Jet GmbH will transport Khaleda Zia from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to London. The aircraft will fly from Dhaka via Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, before heading directly to London. The air ambulance is expected to depart with Khaleda Zia either on Saturday afternoon or at night.

Shayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP’s media cell, said that the previously arranged Qatar royal air ambulance faced technical complications. In line with the Amir of Qatar’s commitment, another air ambulance is being sent, which is scheduled to land in Dhaka at 5 PM on Saturday.

He further claimed that the air ambulance now en route is also under Qatar’s arrangement, although manufactured and operated by a German company. Qatar is not sending the aircraft from Germany directly but arranging it for the mission.

Khaleda Zia was initially scheduled to be flown to London early Friday (5 December). However, the Qatar air ambulance did not arrive at midnight on Thursday due to technical issues.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday morning that the air ambulance could not arrive due to technical problems but is likely to reach Dhaka on Saturday if all goes well.

He added that if Khaleda Zia’s physical condition permits and the medical board approves, she may fly on Sunday, 7 December.

Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on 23 November after she developed breathing difficulties. Tests revealed a lung infection, and she was hospitalized. Her condition deteriorated early Sunday, prompting doctors to transfer her from the SDU to the CCU.