Khaleda Zia to Return to Bangladesh on May 5 After Treatment

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is set to return to Bangladesh on May 5 after completing her medical treatment in London.

BNP Standing Committee Member AZM Zahid Hossain confirmed that Khaleda Zia's health has significantly improved, and if all goes as planned, she will return home on Monday.

She will be accompanied by her two daughters-in-law: Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman, and Syeda Shamila Rahman Sinthi, wife of the late Arafat Rahman Kokar.

Sources within the BNP revealed that Khaleda Zia will travel on a scheduled Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, with special arrangements made for her return.

Although air ambulance services are not available for her journey, Khaleda Zia's doctors and accompanying team in London are ensuring the best possible care during her return, with Tarique Rahman managing the arrangements.

Khaleda Zia was arrested in 2018 in a corruption case and imprisoned in Old Dhaka Central Jail. She was released during the COVID-19 pandemic under special consideration. Following a mass uprising by students and the public, the Awami League government fell on August 5 last year, and Khaleda Zia was granted release through a presidential order. Courts later overturned the verdicts in the corruption cases that led to her imprisonment.

On January 8 this year, Khaleda Zia traveled to London for advanced medical treatment. After 17 days of care at The London Clinic, she was moved to her son Tarique Rahman's residence on January 25 for continued recovery. Khaleda Zia spent Eid with her family, marking the first Eid she celebrated at home after four years spent in prison or hospital.

Currently, she is undergoing a full health check-up at her son’s residence, as she continues to manage multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, heart problems, diabetes, and arthritis.