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Khaleda Zia’s UK trip

Air ambulance not arriving today

German operator requests airport authorities to cancel landing slot

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The air ambulance arranged for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is not arriving in Dhaka today.

It was supposed to land at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today and take her to the UK tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) approved the aircraft's landing request following an application submitted through a third party.

But on Monday, the German operator, FAI Aviation Group, requested the authorities to cancel the slot and no revised application was received, bdnews24.com reported, quoting a senior official of the airport.

However, Executive Director of the airport SM Ragib Samad told The Financial Express he had not received any message until Monday evening that the air ambulance would not arrive.

This was the fifth time that Khaleda's London trip was postponed.

BNP leaders and her medical team said whether she would make the trip depended on her physical condition.

The medical team would make the final decision in this regard.

Former prime minister Khaleda has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital Dhaka since November 23.

She was supposed to be flown to London in a special air ambulance of the Qatar government on Friday morning for advanced treatment.

But the BNP said the ambulance was delayed due to a technical glitch.

Meanwhile, her medical board said she was healthier than before, while her various health parameters were also improving.

Several tests, including a computed tomography (CT) scan and an electrocardiogram, were conducted on Sunday, and the results were good.

After an endoscopy, the bleeding in her stomach stopped. Treatment was underway at the hospital under the close supervision of local and foreign doctors.

The octogenarian has been suffering from various complications, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney problems, for a long time.

She was sentenced to prison in two cases during the Awami League government and was imprisoned for more than two years.

The BNP leader was not allowed to go abroad for treatment despite severe health complications and requests from her doctors.

She was released after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina flew to India on August 5 last year in the face of a mass uprising that overthrew the Awami League government.

nsrafsanju@gmail.com

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