Khaleda to return home from London on Monday
BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia is set to return home on Monday after four months of medical treatment in London. She will be accompanied by her daughters-in-law, Zubaida Rahman, and Syeda Sharmila Rahman.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed the development yesterday, saying, "Madam will return on the morning of the 5th. As far as we know, her two daughters-in-law, Tarique Rahman's wife Zubaida Rahman and Arafat Rahman's wife Syeda Shamila Rahman, are also expected to accompany her."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Zubaida has been in London since 2008, when she travelled there with her husband, Tarique, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman. She has not visited Bangladesh since. She will stay here for a few months before returning to London.
The BNP has written to the inspector general of police, requesting security measures, including a police escort, for Zubaida.
According to the letter, "There is a security threat to her life as a member of the Zia family and the wife of Tarique Rahman."
On January 8, Khaleda was flown to London on a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar for advanced treatment.
The 79-year-old former prime minister was admitted to the London Clinic, where she underwent 17 days of treatment.
Since January 25, she has been under continued care at Tarique's residence.
BNP sources said eight individuals will accompany her on her return journey from London. Apart from her daughters-in-law, her entourage includes personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain and advisers Aminul Haque Chowdhury and Masudur Rahman.
When asked about Khaleda's current condition, Fakhrul said, "Alhamdulillah, she is definitely better than before."
"The air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar is facing some technical delays. Therefore, Madam has decided that if the air ambulance is not available at the last moment, she will return on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight instead," he added.
"All arrangements have been made for her return. If she departs on Sunday [tomorrow], InshaAllah, she will arrive in the country around 11:00am on Monday morning," Fakhrul said.
Khaleda 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 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 August 6, 2023, Khaleda was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin following the fall of the Awami League government.
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